Today is my good friend Donald Belcham's birthday (it's actually also my father's birthday, but I think he'd prefer to have as little to do publicly with this blog as possible).   I want to mention that sincerely I think Donald is an amazing dude, and someone who I have immense respect for both personally and professionally - he was the first .NET MVP in Edmonton Alberta, and no one is more deserving of that honor in this city.  He's an inspiration to software developers everywhere, but if you are lucky enough to have him as a friend there is none better.

To celebrate Donald's 7 decades of software development mastery I've decided to share one of my favorite stories about Donald, one that no one has heard until now. 

I hung with Donald, Steve Rockarts, Kyle Baley and some others at DevTeach in Vancouver this last year and Donald got into a bit of a debate with a 5 year old child walking in the Sheraton Wall Centre with his 27 year old mother when we went to get breakfast.  It was clear the child Donald was talking to (let's call him a "Tiny Tot") was just out of his league, but he was doing his best to hold his own in this debate (I think it was about whether or not the kid wanted to give Donald the rest of his ice cream).

The conversation started to get a little edgy, and Donald decided he wanted to move on to other topics, so he rapid-fired all the reasons why he thought the way he did about the thing he was talking about. *THEN* he kicked the kid SQUARE IN THE NUTS, grabbed his mom, french kissed her and then leaned over and yelled "I'M YOUR DAD!!!" at the crumpled mass of child on the floor. Short, concise, right between the legs.  It was overwhelming. A complete savant spasm that no one was ready for. It was a clear statement: “I’ve had fun, I’m done”.

The only response the child could give was a whimper before he curled up in the fetal position and rocked himself back and forth.

Donald then lays out, what to me, is pure Belcham:

That’s Prison Life Baby

The room erupted with spilled drinks and laughter, tears and people holding their sides from laughing. It was at that time that I decided never to debate Donald in anything, ever, especially if I had a child of my own!! 

I invite you all to share your own treasured Donald memories on your blog today to commemorate this occasion!!