George W. Bush’s eulogy for his father

George(jôrj) W. Bush’s(bo͝oSH) eulogy(ˈyo͞oləjē) for his father

“Distinguished(disˈtiNGgwiSHt) guests, including our Presidents(ˈprez(ə)dənt,ˈprezəˌdent) and First Ladies, government officials, foreign(ˈfär-,ˈfôrən) dignitaries(ˈdiɡnəˌterē), and friends: Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I, and our families, thank you all for being here.

I once heard it said of man that ‘The idea is to die young as late as possible.’

At age 85, a favorite pastime(ˈpasˌtīm) of George H. W. Bush was firing up his boat(bōt), the Fidelity(fəˈdelətē), and opening up the three-300 horsepower(ˈhôrsˌpou(-ə)r) engines(ˈenjən) to fly — joyfully fly — across the Atlantic(at-,ətˈlantik), with Secret(ˈsēkrit) Service boats straining(strān) to keep up.

At 90, George H. W. Bush parachuted(ˈparəˌSHo͞ot) out of an aircraft(ˈe(ə)rˌkraft) and landed on the grounds of St. Ann’s by the Sea in Kennebunkport(kanə), Maine(mān) — the church where his mom was married and where he’d worshipped(ˈwərSHəp) often. Mother liked to say he chose the location just in case the chute(SHo͞ot) didn’t open.

In his 90s, he took great delight(dəˈlīt) when his closest pal(pal), James(jāmz) A. Baker, smuggled(ˈsməgəl) a bottle(ˈbätl) of Grey Goose(go͞os) vodka(ˈvädkə) into his hospital room. Apparently(əˈparəntlē,əˈpe(ə)r-), it paired well with the steak(stāk) Baker had delivered(dəˈlivər) from Morton’s.

To his very last days, dad’s life was instructive(inˈstrəktiv). As he aged, he taught us how to grow old with dignity(ˈdiɡnədē), humor(ˈ(h)yo͞omər), and kindness — and, when the Good Lord finally called, how to meet Him with courage(ˈkə-rij,ˈkərij) and with joy in the promise(ˈpräməs) of what lies ahead.

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https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/read-george-w-bush-s-full-eulogy-his-father-n944436