As the weekend approaches, I thought it was a good time to delve into the “Higher Culture” selection which is featured on the front page this time. I trust you will be as excited about what I discovered as I am!
Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke turned 99 years old on Friday… and he got to celebrate it by receiving the best-ever present, one day early.
Unfortunately, the week did not begin on a positive note as the actor and comedy pioneer, along with his family, had to evacuate their home in Southern California because of a dangerous wildfire threatening the area.
As Van Dyke told NBC News’ Dana Griffin, he considers himself lucky to escape the close call with the help of neighbors.
He recounted the harrowing experience, mentioning, “It was advancing over the hill, visible to the eye, and oh my goodness. We drove away from here,” gesturing toward his residence. Additionally, he mentioned that “[t]hree neighbors arrived” and assisted him in safely evacuating. It is not surprising for those who have seen recent videos of him to learn that despite his age, the actor was actively involved; Van Dyke was attempting to combat the flames with a garden hose.
Luckily, he and his family managed to evacuate without any injuries. But there was one family member unaccounted for–their pet cat Bobo. When his family returned to their Malibu home on Thursday, that “present” I hinted at earlier was there to welcomed them:
Fortunately, Bobo escaped the chaos and is safe. Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, shared they found the cat when they returned to their home.
“There was so much interest in his disappearance that Animal Control was called in to assist,” Van Dyke wrote on Facebook. “But, thankfully he was easy to find and not harmed.”
The actor also shared his home was spared from the flames.
According to authorities, the cause of the fire is still unknown.
As I was finishing up this story, I tripped across a beautiful, second “present” for the great showman–this awesome tribute to the happiness and laughter Van Dyke has given all of us during many of his 99 years–with Coldplay’s just-dropped video.
As Van Dyke says so correctly in a break during the song, “What is love? It’s certainly a feeling, of caring about the welfare and the life of the other person.”
Enjoy (and have a tissue handy)!
Happy birthday, Dick!
