Let's make this birthday one to remember.

80 years old (Born on October 26, 1945)

Happy Birthday, Pat Conroy! May your day be filled with more joy than a Southern family reunion and fewer conflicts than "The Great Santini." Your novels have given us unforgettable characters, powerful stories, and Hollywood adaptations that made even the toughest critics shed tears. From "The Prince of Tides" to your inspiring memoir "The Water Is Wide," you've shown us how storytelling can touch hearts—and occasionally make movie stars look good.

Here's wishing you another year as timeless as your prose—filled with laughter brighter than Carolina sunshine and adventures richer than Lowcountry cuisine. Keep writing; we'll keep reading!