On the 16th April my Dad turns . . . well, no one can remember that far back actually. My Dad is the International Man of History, present at most of the world’s historic milestones, eyewitness to human progress, the birth of the printing press, an innocent bystander at the French Revolution, a survivor of the continental divide (he jumped on the New Zealand piece of land when it was near the north pole), a spectator at the close of the Ice Age (bit too chilly, he once told me). Need I go on?
Now retired in tropical paradise in Queensland, Australia, among the sounds of chirrping parrots and slurping of pinapple juice, surrounded by pretty nurses beckoning his every call, controlling the world from his motorised wheelchair, and finding solutions to the Greatest Crossword Puzzles of modern times.
And I walk in his footsteps, though with unequal stride. Still, I must say, I have become a better chef than my father, despite his reputation. Perhaps the next time we meet, I will prove it to him. His gravy had too much flour, and was sometimes lumpy.
My father, like me, always had a fascination for technology and a desire to empower people in it. In the 1970’s he used to say that one day we would get computer input on our TV’s, although he didnt foresee that we would get TV on our computers. Around 1979-1980, in our little beach town of Orewa, New Zealand, my dad started a computer class at the local high school to empower ordinary people to use computers. Like most things he did, it was probably one or two years before its time, certainly before anyone really had a computer. And now i am about to drive off to help empower some more people to have a voice on the internet. As I said, in his footsteps.
Everyone, this is John Daniel Jones, Innovator, Pioneer, Teacher, Professor, ShortSkinnyKiwi, my Dad.
Thanks to Pastor Barry Horton (Island of Hope), my Dad’s Spiritual Advisor, who regularly prints off my blog and takes a copy over him.
Woo-hoo, and happy birthday to you, Dad Jones!
Thanks for helping give the world someone like Andrew who makes this place rock!
Dear Mr. ShortShinnyKiwi,
I don’t know you and I only know your son TallSkinnyKiwi through his blog. But I would like to say to you sir; JOB WELL DONE! Your son is blessing people all over the world and we now know that you are one of the reasons for him being the man he is today. Sir, the world needs more fathers here on earth like you. May you be blessed today and know that your TallSkinnyKiwi son is a GOOD Egg and a TOTAL BLESSING to us all!
Peace
Happy Birthday Dad Jones aka ShortSkinnyKiwi,
May God comfort and care for you.
May God’s face shine upon you.
May you continue to bless and be blessed.
Thank you for Andrew, he’s still the man!
Happy Birthday, indeed. My dad recently celebrated his 57th, though he claimed he isn’t having anymore birthdays. I think it’s better to have the birthday, eat cake, and claim every blessed year! (That said, I’m only…um, would you believe 24?)