by Pa Rock
Proud Papa
My oldest offspring, Nick, was born fifty-three years ago today at Camp Kue, the US Naval Hospital on the small Japanese island of Okinawa. By the time he was three months old, Nick was a resident of Missouri, the state where he still resides more than half-a-century later. Nick has one young adult son, Boone, (my oldest grandchild), who is a former commercial cave guide and now works as a museum guide and curator in southwest Missouri.
Nick, like his son, has a job which he seems to enjoy, one that keeps his curiosity stimulated. When Nick isn't working (or fishing), he has also assumed the mantle of looking after me so that his brother and sister, who both still have young children at home, can be free to handle their parenting responsibilities. Looking after an elderly relative can be a laborious and, at times, thankless task, but I hope that Nick and his siblings realize how grateful I am to have each of them as functioning parts of my life.
Lately Nick has bonded with his nephew, Sully (Tim's son), over their shared love of fishing, a skill set that Nick basically developed on his own and enjoys sharing with his nephew. Nick also has a tight bond with Gypsy, a very sweet and large dog who happened by our house a couple of years ago and decided to stay. They are besties!
Happy birthday, Nick. You're a good son and a good man, and your Dad wishes you the absolute best for the next fifty-three years. Thanks for putting up with me!
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