Tag Archives: famous birthdays

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Once upon an old West morning, in the little town of Glenwood Springs, the scent of freshly baked bread and coffee wafted through the air. And it woke up one of the most famous young doctors ever.

He got up, walked to the window, opened the curtain, and sunshine flooded the room like liquid gold. And, from downstairs he heard a voice yell out..

“Good morning, birthday boy! Rise and shine. Coffee’s in the cup. Time to get up!”

So, he got dressed, splashed some water on his face, and drifted down the stairs. And as he turned the corner into the kitchen, his wife, Kate, slipped a blindfold over his eyes from behind.

Naturally, he was taken by surprise. But he played along. “What in the world?! Who is this? And what’s the big idea?” he asked.

“Young doctors need plenty of fresh air and sunshine,” was the reply.

And with that answer, he heard the screen door squeak as Kate led him out the back door. She led him slowly down the 7 steps into the back yard. They walked a few steps through the cool, soft grass. And she sat him down at their backyard picnic table.

“Ok,” he said. “So, we’re having breakfast in the back yard. Great. ‘Cause I’m hungry.”

“That IS good,” Kate answered. “You better be hungry. Because here’s a mighty big breakfast!”

And, as she said the word, breakfast, she removed the blindfold. And all around them, gathered in the big back yard, was just about the entire town of Glenwood Springs. But how they had managed to stay so quiet is anybody’s guess. Because there were kids holding balloons, adults holding coffee cups and plates and forks, and a big, waving banner that read, “Happy Birthday, Doc!”

It was almost as if removing the blindfold flipped the switch on to a big celebration. The kids started playing, the adults started eating and drinking, and the breezes snapped the banner back and forth.

Then, Mayor Silverton stepped forward and handed Doc a beautifully carved wooden box.

“This is for you, Doc. From all of us,” he said warmly.

So, Doc opened the box and found a gold pocket watch. It was artistically engraved with the words…

“To our Hero and Friend. Happy Birthday.”

Doc was overwhelmed by that outpouring of love. And, at first, he didn’t know what to say.

But he held the watch close. And thought about for a minute or so. Then he somehow managed to say, “I’ve faced many challenges in my life, but nothing has touched me as deeply as this. Thank you all.”

As the day turned to dusk and the sky turned dark blue,
Under twinkling stars, and as if right on cue,
Everyone sang out loud, “Happy, happy birthday!”
What a way to show love for their Doc Holliday.

And that’s exactly the way it was on that special birthday for one of the most famous young doctors ever. Doc Holliday, who’d be 173 today. Because he was born August 14, 1851.

(FYI: it’s not really the way it was. But it might have been if he had made some different choices.)

Anyway…

 

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

It all started 90 years ago, today. On April 19, 1934. Before I say more about that, let me say this.

Every human being past, present, or future will experience these same three things: Life Love Loss.

Obviously if you were born and you’re reading this now, you’ve experienced life. And you’ve also experienced love, at least in some way, at least once in your life. And, since the birth to death ratio is still 1:1, and not likely to change for the foreseeable future, you WILL experience loss. If not now, soon. But the life, love, and loss you experience here in this space/time continuum isn’t the final word on your existence.

OK. Now. Back to what happened 90 years ago, today.

A little boy was born to Guy and Verna Funderburk. They named him Dwight Lee. And he was the third of their three sons. And just in case you haven’t skipped ahead of me, he also was the one who became my Dad.

Dad, by his own account, started out as sort of a sickly guy. He went through a bout of rheumatic fever. And then he dealt with polio which affected his left arm, which was particularly challenging because he was born left-handed. So, as a result, he had to learn to use his right hand for everything.

If you’d ever met Dad, you wouldn’t have guessed any of that happened. Because he seemed as naturally right-handed as any right-hander. And his left arm and hand looked and functioned perfectly normal.

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t find out until he was around 42 that the rheumatic fever had done more to him than anyone knew about. Turns out, that disease stunted the growth of his kidneys. Here’s more of his story, that I shared a few years ago.

Way back in 1986 my Dad died after battling with kidney failure for nine years. After suffering some unexplained illnesses for multiple weekends in a row, he finally decided to see a doctor. The doctor and hospital ran tests and discovered that his kidneys had failed. And they told him he would probably only live 2 to 4 years more. But he worked hard to remove fluids from his body, in addition to dialysis, and proved them wrong by living 9 more years. However, at the age of only 51 he finally lost the battle with that “terminal” condition and slipped away into the presence of the living, loving, Creator.

To say I loved and admired my Dad would be an understatement.

In fact, I quote him to this day. He was far from perfect (sort of like the rest of us). But he was MY Dad. And that made him the most important man in the world. Being a young man myself (I was 31 when he died) I felt the need to grieve the loss internally. Because big boys don’t cry. And six years after he died I wrote a musical tribute to him.

Here are the lyrics for the guy born 90 years ago, today. Happy Birthday Dad…

Fandango Street

Dwight was a boy anybody would employ
‘Cause he worked his fingers to the bone.
But he said he had to fly, get a piece of the sky.
So he took off for the great unknown.
Everybody said no, no, no. But he still had to go
To make his whole life complete
And look for Fandango Street.

He took himself a wife, as he made the change of life,
And the boy became a regular man.
They had a couple kids just like everybody did.
But it really wasn’t in the plan.
And his spirit said no, no, no.
That’s not the way you should go.
Should be pointing your feet on up to Fandango Street.

Oh, but somewhere the world took over

And left him thirsting for more.
Where was the milk and the honey
He had dreamed of all those years before?

He was moving right along feeling permanently strong
Thinking all he had to do was behave.
But a terminal disease slowly drove him to his knees,
And it took him to an early grave.
And his family said no, no, no.
But he still had to go
To make the journey complete and look for Fandango Street.

And to this day I say no, no, no.
But I know he had to go.
To make the journey complete and look for Fandango Street.
I hear him tapping his feet up on Fandango Street.
And so his life is complete, he dance on Fandango Street!

© 1992 Tony Funderburk

This song could be featured on an episode of the The Power of God’s Love Podcast. So, be sure and subscribe, if you haven’t already, and listen for my song for my Dad…and lots more besides Life Love Loss

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

You’ll no doubt see a lot of September 11 news today. For one thing, it’s September 11 (as I write this), so it’s only natural. But also, it’s an historic day for America. And I’m sure I don’t have to tell you why.

But you probably won’t see this September 11 news anywhere else.

Because it’s not political. And it’s not provocative or tantalizing. But I’m sharing it with you because it’s interesting.

“Uh-oh. Interesting. So, it’s gonna be boring. Right?”

Well, it depends. Do the inventors of “the art of giving Christmas presents” interest you? How about the Queen of Sheba? Or King Solomon and all his riches?

Hmm. Maybe it’s starting to get a tiny bit interesting?

Turns out that King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and a mention of the inventors of “the art of giving Christmas presents” all have one person in common. And he was born on this date, September 11, in Greensboro, North Carolina. His dad was a doctor. But his mother died when he was three. So, he was raised by his grandmother and aunt.

He never crashed a plane into any buildings. But he DID embezzle money from a bank, in Austin, Texas, where he worked as a clerk. And, according to one article I read, he also worked as a ranch hand in Texas, licensed pharmacist, draftsman, bank clerk, and columnist. So, apart from the bank embezzler part, I can sort of relate to his eclectic job descriptions. I’ve had way more.

Anyway…

What makes this guy famous enough to write about?

OK, let’s take a line from a book he wrote. “Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty’s jewels and gifts.” Yeah, there’s the Queen. And here’s the Solomon reference he wrote, “Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.”

If you’re an avid reader (as this guy was said to have been), you might be getting warm with a guess. What if I told you that Della sold her hair to a wig maker so she could buy a chain for Jim’s watch for Christmas? And what if I told you that, at about the same time, Jim sold his watch to buy her a set of hair combs she’d had her eyes on?

Starting to sound familiar?

All that happened in the book, “The Gift of the Magi.” And you might recall the Magi were the wise men who took gifts to the baby Jesus. Yep, they were the “inventors of the art of giving Christmas presents.”

And the author was William Sydney Porter. Better known as O. Henry.

So, his birth in 1862, is the September 11 news of the day you get here.

Because you can look at that other news all day everywhere else. And I prefer to look UP much higher than the tops of skyscrapers. Higher than the clouds of smoke and clouds of vapor. Far beyond the stratosphere. UP to the Heavens where my hope resides. Where the infinitely complex Maker of all the universe created the minds of writers like O. Henry. And me.

That’s where Life lives. Where it has always lived. And where you and I will live one day. At least we will when we trust and love the one those Magi visited so long ago.

Look way up there…
Heaven is way above the sky.
Look way up there…
God lives above the clouds up high.
If you’ll just lift your eyes and smile,
All tears will dry in just a while.
Look way up there…
Then tell your troubles all goodbye.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Imagine directing a film version of The Ten Commandments. And including a scene, from the Bible, where God parted the Red Sea. OK. Now imagine directing that movie in 1923. When there was no such thing as a green screen, motion capture suits, or digital editing. What an incredible undertaking that would be. And it seems like a director might look for easier projects from then on.

But the director I’m talking about did The Ten Commandments again.

And I think most people would agree the second time was better than the first. At least it’s the one that anyone who remembers, recalls.

And the director of both epic Biblical movies was Cecil B. deMille. If you’re not a Silver Screen buff or aficionado, you might not recognize that name. His first name is pronounced with the short e, like set. But everyone, from back then, certainly knew that. Because he made such amazing, memorable movies. In fact, over 70 of them.

I read an article that said his first film, “The Squaw Man,” was “the 1st feature-length film ever made in Hollywood for Paramount Pictures. That was in 1914. And his career lasted into the 1950’s almost up until he died. During those years his epic films included Cleopatra, Samson and Delilah, and Sunset Boulevard.

Of course, he won many awards, including the Oscar.

And he enjoyed years of fame and fortune. But, from other bits of information I’ve read, he professed a Christian faith. Which might explain why he made Biblical themed movies. I hope that’s true. And I see no reason to think otherwise.

But, I didn’t actually get up this morning with a longing desire to write about Mr. deMille. Nope. It’s just that his birthday happens to be the same as another famous person. A much more important and intriguing person. And a person who changed my life permanently and profoundly.

Happy Birthday to my wife, Elgielene. The incomparable Miss El. Here’s to many more. 🎶

Stay tuned,

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No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can help me spread the Word…

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Imagine if you wrote a song and it became popular enough to be played on local radio. And then, more and more people liked it. So, it actually made it to the “music charts.” And then, what if your song rose to the Top 10 charts and stayed there for a week or two. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Yeah, I’d have to let all my friends (both of ’em) know about it. And I’d make sure to spread the news far and wide.

But what if heard someone else was on the music charts over 31 years?

What?! Are you kidding me? That’s impossible.

Nay, nay dear music aficionados.

It’s not only possible. But somebody did it. And that somebody is the most successful rock composer of all time. Paul McCartney. His songs spent 1662 weeks on the the charts. And that translates into almost 32 years.

Mr. McCartney turns 79 today. So, for almost half his life, he’s charted hits songs. Mighty impressive. And he’s still writing and recording. So, who knows? Maybe he’ll make it over the 32 years mark, too.

I read that he had 21 U.S. and 17 UK #1 singles with the Beatles. Then, he had over 30 hit singles on his own. And the information I saw said he’s “written and co-written 188 charted records, of which 91 reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to No.1” For a grand total of 1662 weeks.

Like I said, mighty impressive. So, wherever he is, I’m sure Paul is having a happy birthday.

But, at 79, there aren’t many more birthdays in Mr. McCartney’s future. Now, more than ever, it’s a short numbers game. And then, one day when his body can go no longer, he’ll close his eyes never to open them again. And all that will be left for him will be Yesterday.

Because that’s where the glory years on the music charts will be.

But, unless he changes his tune, his future won’t be with Lucy in the sky with diamonds. He won’t hear the Pipes of Peace. And there WILL be Lonely Nights. An endless eternity of them.

Sure, maybe I’m amazed at how long Paul’s songs stayed on the music charts. But I just can’t get it out of my mind how doomed he might be. No, I can’t just live and let die…you might say (or he might sing).

The saddest part is how all the influence, Paul could’ve had for God, he wasted on the temporary part of life. I don’t know, for certain, that he’s on his way to hell. But, from everything I see and hear about him, there’s no evidence to the contrary. And…

You can’t sing your way into Heaven.
You can’t play your way out of hell.
And on judgment day you can’t plead naïveté.
Your Creator knows you too well.

Stay tuned,

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Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

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