Happy Birthday, Dad!

hey Dad:
It's your birthday, and you're not here to celebrate with us.  I drove Mom out to the cemetery today so she could have a few moments with you  - but then you already know that, don't you.  We brought you roses from Mom's garden, one beautiful flower from each bush.  I wanted to leave you a beer, but I wasn't sure what the policy was there, so I didn't.  Next time, I will, policies be damned!

I read where there is a Memorial Day service out there, and I'm sure it will be beautiful, but I won't be able to be here for that.  (work duties, as that is inventory week - which for me will be Hell Week, but that's the norm).

It isn't the same being here knowing you won't walk down the hall after your shower; you aren't here to help cheer on the Giants (they won in extra innings last night, and lost 0-1 tonight.  Timmy pitched a great game!)  Mom seems to be doing OK most of the time, but I worry that she doesn't get out and do enough.  We both know that she's a young enough age to be doing things, and she should get out more often.  Would be easier if I lived closer, I'm sure!

I know you and Uncle Jim are kickin' it up there, and having long conversations.  But take a few to keep an eye on Triston.  I think he's having a hard time with all the changes he's had in the past year, and without a little guidance, he might get on the wrong path.   I'm sure you greeted your sis, Arlene, this past week.  And today, Wanda joined ya'll up there too.

All of us think of you often, and recall the good stuff as often as possible.  The hardest times are when we need a piece of advice, or your opinion on some kind of fix-it-up project.  But you taught us well, and we'll figure things out on our own now.

Love you always, Dad.
Happy Birthday!

Precious and Few!

Precious and few

are the moments

we two can share!

My daughter, Tanya, was the first grandchild, and is the only granddaughter.  I know she holds a special place in the heart of her Grandpa! 
Just look at how they smile at each other.....
(1982)

 What children need most are the essentials 

that grandparents provide in abundance.  

They give unconditional love, kindness, 

patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life.  

And, most importantly, cookies.  

~Rudolph Giuliani

Water Slide!

This is my Dad --- circa 1970s!

He's riding the waterslide in Manteca, a new campground with  a small lake and fun amenities for the kids.

We spent many many weekends enjoying ourselves here, camping out in style with our pop up tent trailer.

It wasn't far to drive, we'd head up after work on a Friday, get all set up and have a late evening watersliding session.  After it got dark, the campground would play movies on an outdoor movie screen and us kids would park ourselves on a blanket on the ground to watch old Disney films.  There was a game room as well, where you could put coins in the jukebox, play a little pool or pinball.  (or... if you were brave, to flirt with the boys!!  No, wait .... I think that was my sister... yeah, I'm sure it was!! )

Many fun weekends were spent here,
and we never seemed to grow tired of it.
We didn't know we were making good memories,
we just thought we were having fun!

Thanks, Dad!

The Perfect Tree

The Perfect Tree


Every year for as many years
as I can recall, we trekked into
the Santa Cruz mountains
in search of the perfect
Christmas tree.  This one?
too tall.  That one?  Missing
a branch in the front.  Us kids
would wander and holler out
"How 'bout this one??"
We always knew whichever
tree we picked, with it all
decorated up... would anyone
ever notice if it WASN'T the perfect tree??  hehehe

There's nothing that says Christmas like the smell of a fresh pine.

"Is this the perfect tree?"

(Looks like it to me, Dad!)

One of the treats we might stop and get afterward would be ice cram cones from Marianne's.  I especially remember them having double cones so you could have a scoop of your two best flavors...

mine would always be

mint chip and chocolate chip!

mmmmmmm yummy!

Grad Nite

The Year:

     1977

The Event:

     High School Graduation

and the story goes like this:

In a time before cell phones and text messages, you made arrangements before you left home if you needed to meet up with someone somewhere -- you set a time, a place ....

High school graduation is  a monumental event in most teenagers lives.  And I was no different.  After the commencement ceremony on the football field, us grads had to go to the cafeteria to turn in our robes, and collect our diplomas.  Being that there was much confusion (as there always is when there are lots of students, and even more family members crowded into one place), my parents assumed I would ride home with my boyfriend.  My boyfriend assumed I would ride home with my parents.

As I stood outside the cafeteria, watching the parade of cars pass me by -- with no one I knew in them -- soon the parking lot was nearly empty.   And I'm still standing, and waiting.  After a bit, I decided I better start walking home -- after all, I'd walked home from the high school for four years, what's one last time?  (Of course, most days for school I didn't wear a dress and platform shoes!)  I had rounded the corner of the football field, was just in front of the tennis courts when my neighbor, Mrs Martin, pulled up and asked if I wanted a ride.  I hopped right in that car, and she dropped me off at home.

Needless to say, there were a lot of laughs at home about being left behind!

My Hero

My Hero

A firm but loving touch
is what you gave to me.
You helped me learn to be strong
and stand on my two feet.
But when I needed you
You were there all of the time.
You are my dad, my hero,
And you’re the apple of my eye.

Dad, you are truly irreplaceable!
I love you :) 

Blue Ribbon

Am sporting my new blue ribbon,

in honor of my Dad,

who has colon cancer. 

He's always been my hero,

always will be!  

Love you Dad!  xox

Trips with Dad

Our summer vacations were often centered around a trip "home" to Minnesota to see family.  I remember one summer, late June probably, driving in the truck.  I'm thinking mid 70s probably.  We were taking a route we don't normally take somewhere in Wyoming I think.  We ended up on this remote pass through the Rockies -- there was six feet of snow on either side of the truck, and it was summer by all accounts!  (Being a kid from California, this was shocking!)  As we climbed up the steep pass, I remember Dad watching the gas gauge.  Because we were on unfamiliar roads, it was hard to say when the next gas stop was going to be.  (That was before you could ask your GPS unit!)  We crept our way up to the top, and then pretty much coasted down the backside.  Even though there were concerns about having enough gas, I was confident that Dad knew how to get us down to somewhere to get some gas.  Sure enough, at the bottom of the peak was a gas station.  A huge sigh of relief from Mom!  



I couldn't find an archived picture of it.... I'm sure there were too many worries about the drive than the scene, but it looked a lot like this one!

A Little Silliness

I think these

are keys to a good life.

Looking back on these things

will be a life well lived.


 Today's memory is a silly one:

Dad used to tell people

we were rich because we had

TWO dishwashers:

Their names were Linda and Lori! 

*giggling to myself here,
I used to get a real kick
out of hearing him tell that!*

This is the first in a series of posts "ToMyDad" --
his days on this earth may be numbered,
but each one is precious.
I'm taking time to send him something,
some kind of memory, some kind of thought,
every day in the mail.
Everyone loves snail mail, right ??
**smiles**