Today is a day of remembrance for my family. My dad passed away 13 years ago today. 13 years!! In the past I have posted this, this and this. Last year I didn't post anything because I was 8 days over-due with Wesley and either was too highly emotional that weekend or just too tired. Today we looked at a scrapbook I have of my dad and showed it to the kids. It's so fun to introduce them to their grandpa and teach them about the amazing man he was. Sophie was very interested this year and was so sweet and wanted to read everything and look at every picture. Two years ago I wanted to start the tradition of posting a memory I have of my dad so it can be recorded, since I missed last year I will do two this year.
1 - My dad was spontaneous. I have many memories of being waken up in the night and loaded into the car with my parents saying, "We're going to grandma and grandpa's, just go back to sleep and we'll be there when you wake up!" or, "We're going to Yellowstone!" or "We're going to Denver!" This was all exciting being a kid but now that I'm a mom I can sympathize with my mom having to get us all ready so quickly. And it's quite possible all of these trips were carefully planned out ahead of time by my parents because they didn't want us kids to bug them about when we'd be leaving! As a parent I can totally understand that as well. :) Also, before any trip (not taken in the middle of the night) we had to stop up at the school at my dad's art room. I'm still not sure why we did this and it seemed like it took forever - especially the times my dad had to scale the building and climb in the window because he forgot the keys - but without fail we would stop at the school and my dad would have to go in and get or do something before we left.
2- My dad could fix or build anything. It may not be the most professional job, but my dad could come up with a way to fix just about anything that needed fixing, or build anything that he decided to build. He built me a cedar chest for my 16th birthday and we finally moved it here with us and I'm so glad I have it. This was a great skill because I don't know that I could count how many times our cars broke down on our many road trips! Mostly in the middle of nowhere Wyoming on our way to Denver. I remember one drive in particular where we drove a big white van that had beds built in the back and no inside carpeting so it was all this yellow bubbly insulation and we broke down and my dad hitch hiked into the nearest town to get the part to fix it. We were crying and saying, "Daddy don't go!" when some people pulled over to use the bathroom and offered him a ride. When he came back later he was with a guy on a motorcycle. I think we spent 8ish hours or so in the Wyoming desert that day with a broken van. It must not have been too bad because I remember us playing on some rocks and naming one of them "elk poop rock". My poor mom! Another time I remember someone having to pee in the radiator because the car was overheating.... I won't mention any names but it wasn't me. :)
Here's a cute picture of my mom and dad!
2- My dad could fix or build anything. It may not be the most professional job, but my dad could come up with a way to fix just about anything that needed fixing, or build anything that he decided to build. He built me a cedar chest for my 16th birthday and we finally moved it here with us and I'm so glad I have it. This was a great skill because I don't know that I could count how many times our cars broke down on our many road trips! Mostly in the middle of nowhere Wyoming on our way to Denver. I remember one drive in particular where we drove a big white van that had beds built in the back and no inside carpeting so it was all this yellow bubbly insulation and we broke down and my dad hitch hiked into the nearest town to get the part to fix it. We were crying and saying, "Daddy don't go!" when some people pulled over to use the bathroom and offered him a ride. When he came back later he was with a guy on a motorcycle. I think we spent 8ish hours or so in the Wyoming desert that day with a broken van. It must not have been too bad because I remember us playing on some rocks and naming one of them "elk poop rock". My poor mom! Another time I remember someone having to pee in the radiator because the car was overheating.... I won't mention any names but it wasn't me. :)
Here's a cute picture of my mom and dad!
5 comments:
I love that you do this each year and make him a part of your kids' lives.
What a great tradition to remember your father. It has been fun to see little glimpses into your past in these posts. He must have been a wonderful man to have helped raise a wonderful daughter.
Nothing you write is surprising. I wish your Dad was around and we could be sore, old men sitting on a porch now and again. Love you guys.
Thanks for remembering! I love reading your takes of your childhood! Just so you know - most of the time, if not all, our many trips were not planned! Our life was spontaneous! I would just say to Dad "give me half an hour to get things ready", and off we would be! Yes the trips to "dad's art room" was a must before EVERY trip. Ya know, I am not sure why either! I totally had not thought about daddy scaling the art building for a long time! thanks for reminding me. He had a knack for losing keys:)
The trip when the big UGLY white van broke down was on our way to Denver, only not at a rest area. We could not be so lucky. It was in the middle of nowhere! Dad did hitch hike though and was gone for some time. I took you kids out into a field because I was scared someone might stop and "get us". We played there for a very long time. AS soon as we decided to go back to the car a man stopped and asked if I knew where we were, he was lost! I remember he said "I am just "b"arting around and got lost." Whew! He wasn't there to "get us". Dad and Aaron had that van torn all apart in the middle of nowhere in Wyo for a good 8 hours! A long day! Good thing he was so good with cars and very patient!
One last thing, how do you think I got the nick name "peepee"?
I LOVE that pic of daddy and I. It is at Amanda Porters reception and then we went to the Vernal Temple, our last Temple trip we made.
I loved your dad's spontaneity. No one had as much energy or desire to do everything I never knew a person could even dream about. I am grateful I knew him. And grateful to know his family too. :)
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