Happy Birthday, Mrs Hitchcock-O'Connell

To the daughter of our favorite director--

Patricia Hitchcock-O'Connell

Fans of your father's films love to engage of all sorts list play--favorite films, scenes, etc.

Sometimes we try to intuit what your father felt his greatest achievement may have been.  There are short and long lists there, and even you have told me and others about liking Shadow of a Doubt.

I can tell you though from knowing your father through his films and by also being the father of a  beautiful, talented, loving daughter--that he knew that his greatest achievement didn't spool out nightly in theaters--it instead ran about the lawn with skinned knees and a smile that would light a universe of cinemas. 

You are your father's finest production, and so it is best that on this day all us who love your father's film, acknowledge that you, Patricia, are the very best of what survives Alfred and Alma. 

I know you look forward and see your daughters and their children, and can see and say the same--the best of Hitchcock still runs around lifetimes of lawns with skinned knees and kilowatt smiles. 

Thank you and many more happy returns.

Dan