Age quod agis is Latin for “Do what you do with all of yourself.” And since my dad doesn’t want me to buy him anything for his 70th birthday, I’m going to write something for him. Age quod agis.
Dad is the 1961 440 yard (400 m) Texas State Champion.
My dad is a man of few words. He listens more than he talks, which is a pretty convenient considering I like to talk. And if there is a book on the Vietnam War he hasn’t read, I’d be shocked. A voracious reader, my dad keeps Amazon in business and the public library open. He’s even come into the 21st century and bought a Kindle. My dad is a history lover and could teach me a million things, that is, if I could get him to talk about it.
Dad has Beats and an iPod, too.
He’ll tell you that he was only a few hours away from earning his Ph.D; it took me approximately thirty years to find this out about my dad. When I asked him why he didn’t go ahead and get it, he answered, “I didn’t want people to call me doctor.” With his dead-pan delivery, I’m still not sure if he was serious or not. I guess I’ll find this out and a whole lot more when he finishes his memoirs.
Dad will even wear silly hats for me.
My dad has seen the world, but is happiest in his living room chair or at the ranch. He still has that explorer spirit, but now instead of going to India, he heads to Galveston to catch a cruise ship bound for Mexico. Would you believe he took the EXACT SAME CRUISE FOUR TIMES IN THE SPAN OF A YEAR? That’s the funniest thing ever, but that’s my dad. He likes to people watch, gamble a little, see the shows, and read on the deck. If he’s by himself, which is often now that my mom has passed away, he doesn’t even step foot ashore until he’s back in Galveston.
Dad likes to go to the ranch and spend time with his grandchildren.
For his 69th birthday, my dad went to Vegas for the first time since my wedding. I gave him my suggestions since I’m a Vegas addict, but he had most of it covered. He had shows planned for each of the nights he was there. I’ll never forget how he stood in line for the Australian Bee Gees show at the Excalibur. Except it wasn’t the Australian Bee Gees. Oh, they were Australian, but the line he was standing in was for the Thunder from Down Under. I have a feeling a bunch of oiled-up Aussies gyrating around wasn’t the show he wanted to watch.
Dad is willing to do any crazy thing I ask of him. Even this.
I want to wish my dad a very happy 70th birthday and thank him for always supporting and loving me. He is willing to help me even in my most hair-brained schemes. While I’m off traveling the world, he takes care of my dogs and loves them as much as I do. Perhaps the thing that I appreciate most about my dad is his unselfishness, especially when it came to my mother’s cancer. Remaining strong and supportive while caring for someone with a terminal illness is probably the most difficult experience one will ever go through. He has mental fortitude, just another reason why I love him.
Dad (#26) was a college football stud. Maybe that’s where he got his mental fortitude.
Happy 70th, Dad. You’ve given me the world!
Frank DiCesare
March 30, 2012Great post, Leah! (And, yes, the exclamation point is needed.) Your father is quite a man. Happy 70th birthday, sir, and many happy returns of the day.
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012You know I love a good exclamation point, Frank. Thanks for the praise and wishes for my dad.
Whitney Martin
March 30, 2012HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREDDIE!!!!
— WHITNEY
Francesca
March 30, 2012So sweet, Leah. I think this post is better than any gift you could have bought for your dad; it’s from the heart. Happy birthday, Leah’s dad, and many more!
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012I have to agree with you, Francesca. I know he appreciated it and all the wishes.
Katie kinder
March 30, 2012Happy Birthday Freddie from the Kinders!!!! We love you dearly! Hugs~!~
Freddie
March 30, 2012Thanks for the well wishes. Your family gives me great memories and laughs. Love
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012That’s sweet, Katie. Texas misses y’all!
Paula
March 30, 2012Happy birthday Uncle Freddie. I hope you have a fantastic birthday. Love you.
Come see us if you get a chance to go up north!!
Paula & Family
Sabrina
March 30, 2012What a sweet post! Happy birthday!!
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012Ahhh, thanks for stopping by, Sabrina. 😉
Doug & Suzanne
March 30, 2012Freddie- Thank you for being a part of our family and lives. We love you. Happy
Birthday. See you soon.
Freddie
March 30, 2012Thanks for kind words and love. I go to LV on April 8 and want to come to Juno soon after. Love
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012You both are tremendous friends to my dad and family to us. Love you all!
Jody
March 30, 2012what a wonderful birthday present Leah, he is a pretty special guy and you have told me things about him that I didn’t see, please pass along Happy Birthday to him from McAdoo Texas, he was really good to me and my kids!
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012I’m happy to know that he made such an impact on you and your kids. Thanks for the birthday wishes and kind words. I know it means a lot to him.
James Karr
March 30, 2012Happy Birthday, Mr. Walker You and Mrs. Walker had such a great impact on the lives of so many of your students and you are both remembered fondly. You should be so proud of Leah and the beautiful person she has become.
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012You are far too sweet, James, concerning your comment about me. I always love hearing how my parents have impacted so many people in a positive way because I know how much they’ve done for me.
Jennifer
March 30, 2012Happy Birthday Mr. Walker! You have an amazing daughter. I’m glad to call her my friend.
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012I’m blushing, Jennifer. Thank you.
Leah Travels
March 30, 2012Dad doesn’t talk much about himself. Even people who’ve known him much of his life would learn something. Dad is the pied piper for animals, so it doesn’t surprise me that Bruce likes him. Thanks for visiting.
Patty McAlpin
March 31, 2012Happy Birthday to a great uncle-in-law AND next door neighbor. I’ve been lucky to benefit from the occasional words of wisdom (Lord knows I could benefit from him sharing more often!), and his culinary skills, which is another one of his talents. We all love Uncle Freddie and wish him many more cruises and birthdays.
Laurie Hays Coffman
March 31, 2012God bless you, Uncle Freddie. You’ve always been a stalwart, but never so much as in your care of my Maisy. Thank you for your hospitality and support of me. I’d love to visit you and the bluebonnets again. Or you come see us in the pine trees of NC! May you be given many more happy, healthy days in the land of the living.
Mary Coffman
April 1, 2012Wow! What a life! I love that anecdote about the same cruise 4x in a year! HA! Happy Birthday!!
Leah Travels
April 9, 2012Thank you for reading, replying, and being my dad’s friend. He’s like an onion. You’ve just gotta peal away the layers.