His childhood nickname, ironically, was Quaismodo

When I was a college freshman (oh such long years ago), I had to drive from Dover to D.C. for something (what, I don't recall. Old age is gaining on me). This was before the Calvert County move, so the Eastern Shore and D.C. area were utterly foreign to me. As is my life-long habit, I ran to Daddy for aid and asked him to fix me up with some directions.

As is his habit, Daddy graciously granted my request, but with a twist -- as is also his habit. The directions were peppered with commentary about the scenery, placed I passed, and names of roads and towns. It's miraculous my hysterical laughter while driving didn't result in a wreck. Amidst the profusion of off-color and high-brow references, I recall, "SR X forks off to the left here. DO NOT TURN RIGHT, as this will have you crashing into Chesapeake Bob's Meats and Jerky." Sure enough, when I got to SR X, there was Chesapeake Bob's Meats and Jerky to the right.

Then there was the time I told Dad I was thinking of applying to Notre Dame, and he said replied with a crack about hunchbacks. If you wondered where I got it from, there it is.

Happy Birthday* to my Daddy, whose spawn I simply could not be happier or prouder to be.

*His birthday is the 9th, but it's been the 9th for a while where he is, so close enough!