Radically Happy

Today my mom turns 85 — just as she and my dad begin a brand-new chapter at Wesley Willows in Rockford. So of course we have to do a song parody of 1985…

She’s Not Preoccupied with Turning 85

An original birthday song for Esther by ChatGPT, with fast, nostalgic pop-rock energy.

Verse 1

She married John in sixty-five,
Two years later they arrived,
Chicago snow outside the glass—
“John, what’s falling from the sky?”

Steak with ketchup, rice and spice,
One-room flat, a brand-new life,
She asked John, “Who cleans this place?”
He said, “I think you do.” Nice guy.

Pre-Chorus

Then Rochelle called in ’74,
They unpacked their bags—and then
Stayed for fifty-three years more,
Making strangers into friends.

Chorus

She’s not preoccupied with turning eighty-five,
She just moved to Rockford and she’s ready to arrive.
John says they’re retired, but we know that won’t survive—
She’s not preoccupied with turning eighty-five.

New home, new friends,
New people to invite—
Give Esther half a minute,
She’ll have Bible study Friday night.

Wesley Willows thinks
They’re settling down at last—
They clearly haven’t studied the Prabhakars’ past.

Verse 2

John would find an operating room,
Esther somehow worked the room,
German ladies wearing saris,
Indian music—boom, boom, boom.

Mission trips and church committees,
Africa and Indian cities,
“Come for Thanksgiving!” sounded safe—
Until the guest count hit fifty-five.

Pre-Chorus

Faith Lutheran became their home,
But home kept growing wide:
Rochelle reached around the world,
And brought the world inside.

Chorus

She’s not preoccupied with turning eighty-five,
She’s got people to encourage and a party to organize.
John can bring his tennis racket; Esther brings the other fifty-five—
She’s not preoccupied with turning eighty-five.

New home, new friends,
New people to invite—
Somebody warn the Lutherans
There’ll be Indian food tonight.

Wesley Willows thinks
They’re settling down at last—
They clearly haven’t studied the Prabhakars’ past.

Bridge

Eighty-five years—
And the story isn’t done.
From India to Illinois,
She keeps making room for one more one.

You welcomed strangers,
You prayed them through,
You gave away the welcome
That was once extended to you.

And after all these years,
There’s one thing we can say:

Esther never learned
How to quietly fade away.

Final Chorus

She’s not preoccupied with turning eighty-five,
She’s too busy loving people, keeping faith and hope alive.
After fifty-three in Rochelle, there’s another chapter to write—
She’s not preoccupied with turning eighty-five.

So happy birthday, Esther,
From the family you grew—
Across a dozen countries
And a church in Rochelle too.

And Wesley Willows, welcome—
We sincerely wish you well:

You thought you got two retirees.
Just wait.
You’ll be able to tell.

Happy 85th birthday, Esther.