When we saw you blowing out the candles on that Facebook photo, we said, “Can’t be.”
You looked so happy.
A lifetime of military service and “dad service” has obviously kept you young.
Oh sure, you might feel 75 some days.
But every time we see you — always by water — we remark afterward about your vitality, your curiosity about the world, and your joy in sharing adventure.
We love your sense of adventure. We like hearing about your long road trips with your dear wife, from coast to coast to coast. We yearn for another of your pilot stories, especially the ones about flying with your daughter in a homemade plane. Your passion for flight is contagious for all who hear your stories.
We love your easygoing way of sharing. You have shared so much of yourself and your family with us that we lovingly call you all our military family. You have inspired that closeness.
We admire your compassion for others, and the way you live your faith. Your children all serve, whether in public or military service. All their spouses do too.
This is a remarkable legacy.
Your grandchildren are thriving, and making all our lives happier (and keeping Facebook pages primed with photos!) with sweet grandchildren and great-granddaughters.
We haven’t known you for three-quarters of a century, but it’s a joy to be your friends.
We’re grateful for the warm welcome you extended to us, and for the way your family has wrapped us in love.
Happy 75th birthday, dear friend. We want to share years and years of adventures with you, and yes, we want to hear every single story.