When he was young they said he looked like John Wayne...

My father, who passed away last spring, would have been 93 today. Every year on his birthday all five of his children would call him up (if they weren’t at home) to wish him well. He was a quiet, shy sort of man and hated answering the phone. On any normal occasion he would go to great lengths to avoid answering it, and if he did have to answer it the conversation that ensued tended to be awkward. So I guess he must have had mixed feelings about getting all those phone calls and having to answer the calls himself. On the one hand he was secretly pleased – it was his special day. On the other hand he was secretly stressed – he really hated talking on the phone. One year, I was home for his birthday. He must have been in his late 80′s at the time. As everyone was calling in the early evening, they kept interrupting his dinner. Exasperated at having to get up out his chair yet again he said, “Next time I get married, I’m having less children!” My mom thought that was hilarious.
Well, as I don’t have the extension number for the great beyond, I’ll say it here. Happy birthday, Daddy. I bet you’re glad you don’t have to answer that phone anymore!