Thursday, June 12, 2014

For He's A Jolly Good Fellow!



President George H.W. Bush turned 90 years old today. (He is the father of President George Bush).  Even though he suffers from Parkinson's disease and uses a wheelchair, he still jumped out of an airplane to celebrate! What a guy!  He first parachuted from a plane when he was in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  Read about his heroism here. He also jumped in celebration of his 75th, 80th, 85th and now...his 90th!  Again, I say...what a guy!  He IS a jolly good fellow, that nobody can deny!

One thing I always remember about him...he was expected to be seated next to Bill Clinton at some kind of gathering and basically just refused to do so, he wanted nothing to do with him.  Bill Clinton learned of this and contacted Bush and spoke with him. After more time spent together, the two became good friends and they remain so to this day.  There is just something about that story that stays with me.

Skydive1

Did anyone see on the news about the gentleman who left his nursing home in Hove, East Sussex in England and went to the ceremonies in France for the 70th anniversary of D-Day?  His name is  Bernard Jordan, a former Mayor of Hove who served in the Royal Navy during World War II.  What a guy!  I read on the BBC that the folks at the nursing home welcomed him back with a rousing "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow"!   And so say all of us! 

Bernard Jordan
 
 
 
I have a better photo of the British flag but doggone if I can find it for you!  These are some Union Jacks flapping in the breeze on the Eastbourne Pier, it's not far from Hove!
 
 
And I just spoke with my father-in-law in England today, speaking of a jolly good fellow!
Lovely to speak with you today, PEEDER!  No, wait, I will say it with my fake English accent...PEE-TAH!!  xx  Hope you have a lovely Father's Day this Sunday, you are the BEST father-in-law EVER! And I hope all your jolly good fellows have a lovely day.  ( And in Bexhill, England, I am thinking of YOU, Henry G.!)

28 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to George Bush. I have always felt he wa a fine man. That is a wonderful story about the man in the nursing home and the way they welcomed him "home".
    I LOVE that you LOVE your father-in-law, Kay. Mine never liked me so we did not have a relationship. You are blessed....and so is he! xo Diana

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    1. So happy that you admire George Bush too AND that you liked the story of the man from England too!
      I am lucky to have a great father-in-law AND father too! I am blessed!
      Take care! xx

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  2. Sadly, I never met my father-in-law; he died when Steve was only 12 years old. But my mother-in-law and I truly love each other, and I was happy to see her in good spirits and spend time with her when I was in Yorkshire last week.

    You know what was my first thought when I read about George Bush parachuting at his age? Your Dad!! I can just imagine your wonderful Dad doing this kind of thing, if given the occasion :-) Now, THAT is one jolly good fellow for me!

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    1. I was happy to see that you were able to visit England recently and now I am enjoying your photos from your trip!
      LOL on my Dad jumping from a plane! My Dad and I are very much alike, we are well and truly tied to the EARTH! We will leave jumping out of planes for someone else! You are quite right though about my Dad being a jolly good fellow though! xx

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  3. Happy Birthday to George Bush.Thanks for sharing wonderful information, it is really nice information.
    Inspirational Swedish Apartment

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad you liked this story too!

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  4. Happy Father's Day to all of them! They are jolly good fellows, who still have a lot to teach us.

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  5. I didn't know that about Bush and Clinton, interesting. I had read about the British Vet who got himself to the D-Day celebrations, reminded me of the book, The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.

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    1. I thought the fact that they became friends is quite an extraordinary story!
      I just looked that book up, it sounds interesting. If I ever read fiction again, I might read it! :-)

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  6. Yes I saw the stories about Bernard - what an amazing story and spirit. I wished I could be there cheering him on. Happy Father's Day to Pee-tah and to Richard. x

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    1. Hey Julie!
      I will pass on your good wishes to Pee-tah and to Rich-ard!
      (I have to say even my husband's name with an English accent...Americans pronounce it "Rich-URD'!!!

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  7. Happy birthday to George Bush! Happy birthday to Prince Philip too!
    Yes, I loved the story of Bernard Jordan, and the cheeky veteran that asked to kiss Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

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    1. Ah, those Brits, you gotta love them!
      Well, you don't have to, but I do!!

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  8. Happy Birthday to all the good old boys and a happy Father's Day too. Hope your husband has a good day on Sunday. xoxo,Susie

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    1. Thanks, Susie! I hope you and yours had a lovely day too!

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  9. I loved the story about Bernard skipping out to attend the ceremonies in France; it was all over the news here. A wonderful story - good on him! :)

    I read about George Snr and his sky-jump....good on him, too. He's braver man than I am Gunga Din!

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    1. I loved that story too! And you made me laugh, Lee! I am constantly saying, "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din" and my young co-workers look at me like I am crazy!!

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  10. He is! He is! A very jolly good fellow indeed!

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  11. One has to have a certain admiration for anyone who parachutes at 90!

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  12. What lovely thoughts and pictures.
    Yes, Happy Father's Day!

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    1. Aloha! And I hope you had a happy Father's Day celebration in Hawaii!

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  13. What a fun post! I think the Bush, Clinton story is a good one because it shows the truth of forgiveness and getting to know others better before forming opinions..I'm not a big Clinton fan, but this was a good story! My goal is to never jump out of a plane at any age! Ha! I applaud that lovely gentleman who went to the 70th celebration of D-day....what a guy! Happy Father's day to your family!

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    1. You know, it's funny, I have read several accounts of this friendship between Bush and Clinton and yet, hardly anyone has commented about it in newspapers and magazines, I suppose it doesn't fit in into anyone's political agenda, so therefore, it is not important! LOL!
      And I am with you about the skydiving! Man, you could not PAY me to do that!!
      Hope you had a great Father's Day celebration with your family!!

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  14. I'm surprised at the Clinton-Bush story. It's really wonderful and gives you a lot more respect for both men. Amazing that he did another sky diving! Wow!

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    1. Don't you just love that story about them? I do, and funny that I haven't seen hardly anyone else mention it! I wouldn't skydive, would you? Not at any age!

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