Sunday, April 4, 2021

Happy Birthday!

Today is my dad's birthday. He passed away three years ago, but we still celebrate his birthday every year. Among my dad's many talents and interests was his love of reading. He read many different kinds of books: biographies and histories, westerns, mysteries, science fiction, and even the occasional romance. He and my mom are the reason I love to read so much. Books have always been a large part of my life because of them. So, in honor of my dad's birthday, and his love of reading (which he passed on to me), I thought I'd honor these twelve authors who were also born in April, and wish them all a Happy Birthday.

Anne McCaffrey (1st)



Hans Christian Andersen (2nd)



Washington Irving (3rd)



Maya Angelou (4th)



Anthony Horowitz (5th)



Vince Flynn (6th)



Beverly Cleary (12th)



Jon Cryer (16th)



Isak Dinesen (17th)



Nick Hornby (17th)



Sue Grafton (24th)



Andre Agassi (29th)



Happy Birthday, Dad ... and Happy Reading!

38 comments:

  1. It's nice that you and your dad shared a love of reading. Happy Birthday to him and the twelve authors in your post!

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    1. I still have some of my dad's books sitting on a shelf. I just like knowing that a part of him is still around. :)

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  2. What a wonderful way to honor the memory of your Dad. My dad died three years ago, too, and it is days like today, Easter, when I really miss him.

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    1. The fact that my dad's birthday landed on Easter Sunday this year was especially poignant.

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  3. Aw this is such a sweet post!

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  4. Very sweet, Lark. My Mum was the reader in the family although Dad did read more as he got older. I think he was always too busy doing things and never relaxed much.

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    1. My mom is a great reader, too. She reads everything and anything. :)

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  5. Aww happy birthday to your dad- such a great tribute! My dad passed away a few years ago too and it is awesome you were able to develop a love of reading from him.

    Some pretty neat authors on this list!

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  6. Very nice post and Happy Birthday to your Dad. I think it's great that your parents loved reading so much. It's a wonderful legacy to pass on to one's children.

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    1. I'm very grateful for many of the things my parents taught me growing up! :)

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  7. Happy Birthday to your dad. So lovely to grow up in a reading family. Sadly, I did not so was looked upon as weird. I made sure when I got married to marry a reader and we too passed that on to our girls. What better thing can you do for your children? :-)

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    1. I was very lucky to grow up in a home where books were really important. I'm glad you have that kind of home now, and that you gave your girls that same gift. A love of books and reading is one of the best things you can give to children! :)

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  8. Happy Birthday to your Dad!! What a sweet post. Happy reading to You!!

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  9. Well done, Lark. That's a really nice tribute to the memory of your parents. Happy Birthday to your dad.

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  10. What a wonderful tribute to your dad! It is not surprising that you are such a voracious reader with parents who read themselves and encourage it.

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    1. Reading was definitely a big thing at my house. Trips to the library were a regular occasion (which they still are for me).

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  11. Such a lovely tribute to your dad and how wonderful that both he and your mom are why you are the reader you are today.

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  12. That's a lovely tribute to your dad, Lark! It's always a wonderful thing that the parents share their reading passion with their children. I'm the only avid reader in my family and I'm glad my daughters share this passion with me. :)

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    1. My whole family loves to read: both my sisters, my niece and nephews, my parents, and me. :)

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  13. I'm so sorry to hear about your dad, Lark! I'm glad he left you a legacy of reading, though. When I was growing up, my parents - especially my mom - were also big readers. They've kind of moved on to other hobbies in their old age, but they always made sure our home was full of books and that we made regular trips to the library. Reading was always encouraged in our house.

    I read a book once (can't remember which one, unfortunately) that took place in a heaven where artists kept producing. You could go to the theater and see the newest Shakespeare play, read the latest Agatha Christie, etc. I love that version of heaven and hope it's for real! If it is, we'll all get to keep reading our favorite authors for forever and ever :)

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  14. It's my dad who gave me my love of reading too. I'm very lucky still to have him though my mum is gone. As you said he gave you a real gift and you'll have that forever.

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    1. I count myself very lucky to have had the dad I had, for as long as I got to have him around! :)

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  15. What a nice tribute, Lark. My dad was an avid reader as well. The last time he visited me before he died, he took several boxes of books. I had planned to donate them, but he wouldn't allow it. He didn't care what they were about. My mom asked me if I remembered that during her visit a couple weeks ago. She told me my dad read nearly all those books. Many weren't the types of books I would have thought he'd like, but that didn't stop him.

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    1. That's so great! I love that we can connect over books with family and friends. :)

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