If Meriwether Lewis had lived to be 80, I wonder what he could’ve accomplished. Would he have continued to serve as Territorial Governor of Upper Louisiana? Found a wife? Published his journals on his own (very scientific) terms? Weathered an election for national public office?
We’ll never know.
And, today, Merry doesn’t really matter much to me.
Because Dad is 80.
Eight decades of making mayhem as Hot Shot. Of serving his country in the Army and standing up against racism at the University of Georgia. Of somehow charming my mother into marrying him. Of making two kids. Of never quite knowing how to father those two kids. Of always finding a place to drink coffee and talk to strangers, wherever he was. Of retiring early, with honors. Or turning junk into……..junk people actually wanted. Of serving his church and his community.
Of weaving stories about every bit of it (and peeing on a few termites along the way.)
I’m sure everyone approaches 80 with a sense of ‘Have I done everything I wanted to do with my life that’s flown by?’
Dad, I don’t know about you.
But I wouldn’t change a thing if it meant you wouldn’t be my father.
Happy Birthday.
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TODAY’S MERIWETHER LEWIS BIRTHDAY MONTH TRIVIA QUESTION:
WHERE WAS MERIWETHER LEWIS BORN?
Answer to yesterday’s Meriwether Lewis Birthday Month Trivia Question: Who was Meriwether Lewis’ godfather?
THOMAS JEFFERSON (also a big clue as to where Merry was born……….)
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Get Dad an 80th birthday present. Nothing would make him happier than selling a few of my books and taking credit.
Dad, Mom and I are in a neck-and-neck-and-neck competition to see who can sell the most books. I’m closing in on Dad for the lead. So, help him out on this day, his 80th birthday. I’ll put all copies sold today in Dad’s sales column.
To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis is just $2.99 on Kindle during August in celebration of Meriwether Lewis’ Birthday Month.
.
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To check out the entire Meriwether Lewis Birthday Month Series, follow the links below:
Lewis and Clark: Screwing Their Way Across a Continent
Lewis and Clark and Sex Bombs
Who Was Meriwether Lewis Godfather?
88 Comments
happy birthday roy and here’s to 20 more and may you outsell your rivals on this very special day. i like the way you approach the world in your own enthusiastic way, you are a storyteller who did so many things right, and one was being the father of another fabulous storyteller)
Dad’s on his way down here, and I know he’ll enjoy reading all these messages today. 🙂
Happy Birthday to Roy and I’m proud to share my birthday with him, unfortunately I’m not quite the “character” he is but in a few more years you never know.
Happy Birthday, Howard!! You’re the third person I know who has a birthday today. I hope it’s your best yet.
Happy Birthday to Dad…..and you left out the best part about him working in a funeral home…..Enjoy these times, even with the challenges.
I’m sure he’ll point that out when he gets here…….Ha.
Happy Birthday to Roy! A great traveling companion and a wonderful storyteller.
I’m sure he’ll love seeing you later today.
A Very Merry Happy Birthday to Roy Boy.
Wish I could convince him to spend the night and make up at your Rotary Club tomorrow.
A very, very happy birthday to your Dad. May he long reign as a subject of your stories.
here here!!
Happy Birthday to Andra’s dad! May you have a most awesome, story-telling day!
I’m sure he’ll be in rare form……. we’re dragging him to an Italian restaurant tonight to celebrate. We offered to go to his favorite place on earth, an ice-cream-and-sandwich shop, but because we actually wanted to go there, he decided he didn’t want to. So, I picked the Italian place. He complained and complained and complained until I said they would have spaghetti, and he’s going begrudgingly………and I know he’ll eat three baskets of bread and bunches of pasta and STILL want to go to the ice cream place afterwards………Remember what I said on your blog yesterday? They bait us. They really do.
Ha! Parents are so cruel! :-p Funny, mom’s birthday is tomorrow and two of my cousins and I are taking her to an Italian restaurant. Except, she’ll probably eat half a ham sandwich and a piece of cherry pie. And complain her brandy manhattan wasn’t strong enough. 😉
Ye Olde?
Yes. The West Ashley gas station location.
Here’s to a strong brandy manhattan. 🙂
how many cherries?
Happy birthday, Roy!!! It’s great that you’ve made such a difference!
I wouldn’t be here without him.
For one, an awesome birthday to Roy! I’m so glad I went to the library so I could see a little bit of that classic Roy in action!
And secondly, I think the answer to your question was in the book, so it feels like I cheated but I cheated by reading your book which is hopefully a good way to cheat. Virginia right? I’m trying to remember if they actually say he was born there or just “from” there.
If you got the answer from the book, that’s not cheating at all. 🙂
Happy birthday Roy. Many more.
Thanks, John. As long as he’s happy and healthy, I hope he hangs around.
Happy Birthday Roy! We’re eternally grateful that you married and brought (along with Mrs. Watkin’s considerable help) Andra into this world. She has made a tremendous difference in our lives. So, that means YOU made a difference in our lives through your choices too. Hope you have a lovely day!
He’ll love reading this comment, Cheryl. Thank you.
Happy Birthday, Roy! Enjoy your spaghetti dinner — I’m sure you’ll get the ice cream and cake, too!
Your girl has a way with words, but we all know where it started. Thanks!
I’m sure it’ll be some other kind of pasta, but we just call them all spaghetti, and he eats it…… 🙂
Happy birthday Roy!
He enjoyed reading all these comments today. Thanks, Lisa.
Happy, happy birthday, Roy! May your book sales put Andra’s to shame!
That wouldn’t take much. Ha.
Happy birthday Roy! You are one of a kind – and that’s probably a good thing. Don’t know what Andra would do with two of you. And I glad that our paths have crossed. Glad to know you sir.
Now, tell us a story, won’t you?
Hope you’re feeling better now.
I am finally. Thank you.
Happy B- Day, Roy-and many more.
A fitting tribute, Andra. 🙂
We had a good day.
Feliz Cumpleanos to a wonderful man! I can only hope that at 80, I will have his zest for life and adventure. I have yet to pee on termites but if that’s what it takes to be as happy as Roy then I will try it! 🙂
Do you have termites in MA??
Roy never ceases to charm, does he? Happy Birthday to someone who knows how to live life by his own rules.
It’s the only way he’ll live, dammit.
In reply to Mr. Andrews…95 and no fruit or veggies.
but….but…..cherries…..
I’ll make up for mom’s share of cherries in my brandy old fashioned.
Have a happy, happy birthday, Roy and enjoy your spaghetti, ice cream and family time tonight!
He had it all, Lisa.
Happy birthday to your dad. My dad turns 80 in January. It’s quite a milestone.
Dad’s been telling everyone he was 80 since he turned 79. Ha.
Happy Birthday, Roy. I love your story telling — even if I have heard the story before. You always put a little different spin on it. Love from Roger and Phyllis
He found some new victims today.
Happiest of Birthdays to your Dad! Baited or not…what precious moments! 🙂
Thanks, Karen. I argue with him now because it makes him so, so happy.
Happy Birthday, Roy! Hope you’re having a great day!
I think it was mostly good, Tom.
Happy Birthday Roy! It was a pleasure to meet Linda and you when you were in Asheville earlier this year. You are an inspiration to all of us to live each day to the fullest and never, ever meet a stranger! xxoo
I don’t know how on earth this comment ended up in spam, Jill. They enjoyed meeting you, too.
Good to see a pictures of you and Roy working the room…happy birthday, Roy, by the way:)
He had a great birthday, Roger.
My dad was on his way to 95 when he passed. Next Sunday would’ve been number 97. PIP, Pop,
95. Wow. A very long life.
Happy Birthday….to a man I’d love to meet someday.
I hope you get to meet him, Lori.
Happy Birthday
I’m so envious of your relationship with him, the admiration you show his way. I wish I had that with my parents.
I hope the book I’m writing now paves the way for you, Lance.
It’s a great gift to have a dad reach his 80th birthday. And maybe have many more. He is such a character, and also such a dear. I hope he had a fabulous birthday and relished all the birthday well wishes. 🙂
Please tell your father I said “happy belated birthday”. In this post you paint him as a great fellow who I would be glad to have coffee and a chat with. It’s no wonder a hero like that could charm a lady like your mom. 🙂
Happy Birthday Roy!!!
A very belated but heartfelt wish of happiness for your father in his birthday month! 🙂
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