“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 852 (Friday) –ducky

Today is the birthday of X2’s father, Bob Dohner, known wide and far as Ducky. Ducky was a character. I can’t recall why he was called Ducky or if I even ever knew the source of it.

He was the king of the dad jokes, and would crack himself up constantly with his favorite one as his four offspring, their spouses, and the grandchildren all rolled their eyes. “Why don’t donkeys go to school? Because nobody likes a smart ass!” Funny the first time. Less funny the ten millionth time. There were more, but that is the one that has stuck for some 20 years. Long live the dads and the dad jokes. 

He was a whistler, and did it often. Real songs, songs he made up, always something. He would warble a jaunty snippet to signal to his wife across a store. The most memorable extended whistling session occurred during a car trip from Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania to Gananoque, Canada, when the radio stayed off for most of the trip and the whistling was in full force. It was nice for the first few minutes, but the remainder of the five-plus hours trip was a bit painful.

Before realizing it was Ducky’s birthday today, he had already been on my mind thanks to the July book club selection I've been reading. In the book, one of the characters said “Jesus on a bike” a couple times. This was total Ducky comment, which he also expressed in variations including "Jesus on a tricycle," and the extended version, “Jesus Mighty on a broomstick.”

Ducky was a police officer with Reading Police Department for 30 years, then became a detective with the Berks County district attorney’s office for another 12 years before retiring. Four years after his retirement, at the age of 69, he passed away. I hate that part of Ducky’s story. He was so full of life and after 42 hours of working he finally had time to relax and enjoy it. And, in a blink, he was gone. It doesn’t seem fair, but then again, life isn’t, so there you have it.

Here's to you, Ducky. Happy heavenly birthday.