Godzilla makes a rare appearance at the Minnesota State Fair: August 29, 1981

Godzilla, old friend, you've hit the big 5-0. Where have the years gone?

We've spent a lot of time together, you and I -- some say too much time. Remember when you were transported to Planet X in order to help those weirdo aliens out with their King Ghidorah problem, and it turned out they were setting the Earth up for destruction? Or that time when that alien spaceship created its own monster at the bottom of the sea, just so it could wrestle with you in a three-falls-out-of-three cage match in the streets of Tokyo?

Or how about this -- remember our double-date with the Peanut sisters? Mosura was sure angry when he found out -- but those sisters were worth the risk, wouldn't you agree? Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more! Such memories!

Of course, you're one of those buddies my wife doesn't approve of -- she thinks you're a bad influence, that we keep getting into trouble together, and that it's childish of me to keep hanging around with you.

But listen. Some friendships are like a bad cold. You can't shake 'em off. So let's meet over at Sweeney's, old buddy, where the drinks will be on me. We'll toast your birthday. And 50 years of rompin stompin radiation-fueled mayhem.