Dearest Dad,
Happy 70th birthday!!
I'll admit, 70 used to seem SO OLD. Funny how that's changed, and it no longer seems quite as ancient as I once thought. Maybe my perception is different because you make 70 seem young.
You're not as young as you once were though. Not as young as this handsome guy standing with his father and his younger brother on his wedding day...
And with his beautiful bride...
Walking into a bright future together...so young...so incapable of knowing the joys and challenges that lay ahead...
Opening a pile of gifts on your bride's parents' front lawn (things were done differently back then, weren't they?)...
Leaving amidst a shower of rice in snazzy going-away outfits...
Off into the sunset and a beautiful future together...
How glad I am that, 70 years ago, you were born, and (almost) 47 years ago, you married that lovely lady!
As you know, when I was growing up, I was closer to Mother. I spent a lot of time with her and thought I was SO much like her; and it's true, I did share a lot of interests with her. But it wasn't until we moved back here almost 5 years ago that I realized how much I'm like YOU! Oh, I knew we were both left-handed and that I got my nose from you, but I didn't know that my personality is actually much more like yours than like Mother's. Thanks for being the source of my easy-going, let's-not-worry-about-it, sure-you-can-come-over-for-dinner-even-if-I-haven't-mopped-the-floor-in-weeks outlook on life. You know I didn't get that from my mom. :)
This is a big year for you. Besides this day, another hugely important one is looming: August 31, the day you officially retire after 41 years of practice in our town. You already know that there are many people who are mourning that fact and who can't easily conceive of going to anyone else for their medical care. But I believe the time is right, and I'm so proud of you for making this decision. I remember a few years ago when you were having recurring heart trouble. I think all of us in the family were worried about you and maybe pushed a little too hard for you to retire - simply because we didn't want your health to suffer. After your celebration last year for 40 years in practice, I saw in a new way something that Jeff had been trying to tell me: practicing medicine is not what you do; it's who you are. From that point, I made the decision to never again pressure you to retire. Not that my previous pressuring did any good anyway. :)
I know life will be very different for you come September; but don't worry, it will take you months and months and months to clean out your office, so you won't have too much free time on your hands for a while. :) Plus, your offer to be the second teacher in our homeschool will come in very handy; Josiah's already done about 6 math lessons that you can grade. :) Seriously though, I believe God will continue to use you in many ways to do what you are so good at: caring for people. Retirement is not the end of your service, just a freeing-up from the constraints of regular office hours, hundreds of (sometimes demanding) patients, and insane amounts of paperwork, so that you can focus on other things - and maybe get a little more rest, too. :)
You know we tease you sometimes about your relationship with your phone. Attached at the hip, that's you and it. :) (By the way, that's one aspect of your personality that you did NOT pass on to me). It just goes to show, however, that you are such a people person, able and willing to talk to anyone at any time, giving freely and ceaselessly of your time and energy to help others. I really admire that about you.
Most of all, I'm grateful for all the ways you've taken care of us, your family, for so many years. As the couple in those wedding photos ages before my eyes and I get to see and be involved in your senior years, I'm so very thankful that you have Mother and she has you. You go together like...like...like apples and peanut butter...like Quick Refresher and Hot Buffalo Wings pretzels...like David's pinky and his little brother's mouth. Like you were meant for each other. And, of course, you were. It's been a precious gift for me through all these years to never have to worry that your marriage was going to end. The security I gained from that has been priceless; thank you for that.
I hope you know today - and will always remember - how loved and respected you are, not just by the numerous patients you've cared for over the years, but by us, your appreciative family.
Happy 70th! I love you very much!
From my heart,
Davene
2 comments:
What a wonderful way to honor your father on his birthday. That was beautiful. I'm really glad they have those pictures--it is really neat to see them and think of how things were different not so very many years ago. I know you (and the whole family) will keep on enjoying your dad, maybe even more after his retirement!
This is such a wonderful post. Love the old pictures, love the stories, and can't belive your dad is retiring! I know he loves what he does, but it's because he loves those he does it for. Thanks for sharing a little more of him in this post.
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