Dad's 90th B'day: Part Tribute, Part Comedy of Errors

You know that time is moving much too fast when you look in the mirror, and suddenly realize that you have Dad's thinning hair. What happened?!

Then you realize the advantages -- you won't have to get it cut, it dries much faster, and it stays out of your eyes. Not bad -- it's pretty cool getting old!

But wait -- I could probably never aspire to being as cool as the guy in this article -- namely, my dad. He's sure weathered a lot of storms since his birth in 1919. In World War II he served in Okinawa and The Phillipines -- nearly witnessing Ernie Pyle getting killed. And Dad even managed to bring back a 7.7 mm Japanese rifle. Now that's what I call a survivor!!

It's always been a source of comfort that our family has three birthdays from September through October. And since Mom's is in July -- that's not too far afield. So let's take a nice long pause and give an account of all the cool things Dad has given us through the years.

But wait a second -- how about when he first met Mom? I think it was just one of those "Strangers In The Night" moments, when he was walking on a rainy corner with his uniform on. And Dad being such a gallant sort with natural magnetism, they pretty much clicked!

After their marriage in 1947, oldest brother Brian arrived just after Christmas -- two years later. He's always been the authoritative, explorer type -- breaking new ground with the study of nature -- specifically, snakes! And that wandering muse has also inspired his daughter Jennifer, who's now a paleontologist for a National Park in Oregon. (Cool state -- you can grow almost any plant there!).

So Dad's conservation / nature-oriented heritage, forged from his early farm life, has definitely planted deep roots in the rest of the family.

Ross was born in '59, and now is an outdoor writer in Wisconsin. (This guy had NO trouble deciding what he wanted to do in life!). Along with wife Michelle (a chemical engineer) and daughter Kali, they compose a formidable family indeed. (He sometimes teaches hunter safety too).

I was "launched" in 1962 (hmm...wasn't that also when the Cuban missile crisis happened?!) -- and have never stopped running ever since. I learned to read at age three from a magnetic letter board -- also the same year as our city flood. Ross and I both developed pneumonia as a result -- but I managed to escape the nurses, into the arms of Grandma and her junk food oasis! (Fortunately I've discovered the virtues of better nutrition since then).

Through and beyond those tumultuous years, Dad has faithfully piloted us to so many interesting places -- from Wisconsin to Minnesota (a cabin next to a lake -- and a noisy railroad track!). That also includes Kentucky on a summer day when it was 100 degrees -- taking a little detour from seeing Ross at Southern Illinois University.

Of course, it was the closer-to-home places that really held our interest -- like The Sandhills. This is now Long's (plant) Nursery. But back then, it was where Dad's able stewardship transformed us from BB gun shooters to .22 rimfire marksmen -- and all the way to full-fledged shotgun duck hunters!

Generally, though, our preferred game was on the small side -- from croaking frogs to pest birds hiding by those bogs. And we also learned the virtues of precision American and European air weaponry.

With a series of Chevrolets and Pontiacs, Dad pointed us in right direction. Once, out by his dad's farm in the country, he took Brian on a different kind of ride -- pulling him in a sled on a rope attached to his car, trailer-style! So Dad definitely has a crazy side.

He also helped us explore many theme parks. Those include Great America in Gurnee, Six Flags in St. Louis (MO), Adventureland in Iowa, and Santa Claus Land in Dundee. I won't mention the time that Mom got lost or separated from us at Six Flags -- whoops, I guess I did!

Once he even let us shoot pigeons inside a factory where he used to work -- but those numerous metal beams and a general lack of flashlight candlepower made it difficult.

He also helped spark my insect obsession. At least twice he brought home beautiful yellow Imperial moths -- from the corn processing factory he used to work, and even from a grocery store parking lot.

And that also brings to mind some more trying times we've had. Dad's had so many different jobs through the years, but mostly very long careers at Pillsbury and Clinton Corn (now ADM). During the late '70's and early '80's, his union there unfortunately took the opportunity to strike. It was the not-so-golden age of Jimmy Carter / Federal Reserve inflation, and the Grain Millers didn't want to miss out on a lucrative wage increase.

So, of course, Dad lost his job. And it was hard for a while -- but not so bad for this survivor. He found jobs as a factory guard, Target store greeter, and for a cleaning service. His good-natured cheer and energy helped us transcend the recession and brought us forward. (Plus, I'm willing to bet, his other vitality secret is plenty of decaffeinated coffee!).

And that's where we are today -- but this is actually about yesterday, his 90th birthday. From Mom's phone call, 'The Fulton Journal' posted a neat little tribute to Dad for this momentous occasion. The only problem is, they got his address wrong!! The address they actually gave was for a man named Al Poel -- whom Dad even drove with in a car pool, years ago! (Special thanks to cousin Linda's husband Howard, for researching and discovering the posted address's actual identity).

Fortunately Dad got plenty of cards so I guess the senders managed to check the phone book -- as the Journal should have!

The other bizarre error took place after Dad and Brian ordered two pairs of shoes from a local (Clinton IA) seller. It was supposed to only take five days, but it was taking forever, so Brian drove over there to investigate. They did get some shoes in -- BUT THEY WERE THE WRONG SIZE!! Argh!!! Maybe they're just trying to test his patience. (I DID originally tell them to go to Kohl's instead).

Ah -- but Dad's got plenty of other fun stuff to play with, like a new mower and snow blower. We brothers take care of everything -- despite those occasional glitches.

So what's next for Dad -- maybe a career in politics? I've almost thrown my hat in that ring, but I lack his amazing gift for gab (which also includes some hilarious Norm Crosby-style malapropisms). Let's just all stay tuned so we can be inspired by this exuberant, friendly, and extraordinarily-healthy man!

(The VA hospital he visits, also gave him a standing ovation when they found out about his 90th birthday!).