Proud Father

Just when you think your life's contributions have gone unnoticed or appreciated little words or deeds come your way that just melt your heart. This is what happen to me on Fathers day with my daughter Carleen. On Saturday I tired to surprise her by giving her a doll to replace one she treasured as a child and I thew away when it seemed that the poor thing had seen its last day.
On Fathers day she returned the love by honoring me on her blog with the most beautiful tribute a father could ever hope for. The words expressed were like a sonnet that could be sung by choirs of angels. She is so talented in the literature field, its hard to believe we share DNA.
I love all my girls and we have traveled many roads full of pot holes, laughed, cried and screamed at one another from time to time but each in our way give our love that knows no boundary. My dad once told me that any man can be a father but it takes a good woman to make him a good one. Now I know what he meant I could never have succeeded as a father without the love of their Mother, May she rest in peace.
The past week was spent baby sitting a pair of cats and house sitting for my Step Daughter who lives in Temecula. Their family had to make a trip to Penn. to attend a memorial service for my Step Son's Mother.
Temecula is an old west type of town in San Diego county, the buildings there resemble the 1800s and has many Antique shops and tourist attractions. On of the main attractions in the area is the wineries and Indian Casinos that resemble Las Vegas. One of my favorite Casinos is "Pala," where one of the oldest Missions in California still has service and a school in operation. The Casino just opened a new Buffet which seats 630 people and has the best varity of food I have ever had in any Buffet.

Silent Thoughts

I think everyone should have roll models in their life and these are three of mine, My dad and my two brothers. Some times when we look at our family tree we don't realize how strong the roots are until some of the branches wither and die. Although my father only acquired an eighth grade education, he never forgot the value of faith, hard work and family devotion.

As I look back over the years and wonder just what legacy has been left to me, I can only see the devotion of love of family, country, honesty and faith. I didn't need wealth of monetary value handed down to realize my wealth in love.


When my maker calls me home I wonder if the roots of this old family tree will flourish or if it is time to uproot the stump. This old barn reminds me of my life, it has stood firmly over years and sheltered its contents, and holds so many memories of good times and bad.

a little reunion

Today was a joyful reunion with old family friends. Dick and Jeanne Taft are here visiting their kids and grand kids. We all met at Mimis cafe in Torrance for breakfast, his daughter "Vickie" came along. We had a good time reminiscing about the good old days and wishing we could all turn back the years. Remembering the good time we shared when we all lived in Lawndale, Dick and I shared the duties of Boy Scout leaders while Jeanne and Anita (my dear departed wife) took care of girl scouts.
Here we are forty plus years since we were all in good health and enjoying watching our families grow. Now Dick is dealing with a pace maker, diabetes, and recoving from prostate cancer, I've had surgery on both ears, back surgery and a new hip. We may not be able to hike the mountains like we used to but the story telling is just as good.

Birthdays?

Email from my oldest brother confirmed that the big event of putting the other brothers ashes in the ground in Pagosa was canceled. Funny after all these years I never knew when my sister-in-law Betty's birthday was but in the email he mentioned that her birthday is on the 22nd of June and he was looking forward to celebrating that too.
Speaking of birthdays, our grand daughter Marissa just turned ten and we made a trip to Temecula to celebrate. My how birthday parties have changed over the years. Remember when a home made cake and kool-aid was the high lite of the day? I don't know how many kids came to this shindig or how many adults but it was wall to wall people. Dave is quite the chef and prepared a grilled feast. This party even had a theme, "Wicked" named after the play and the eldest grand daughter dressed up as the wicked witch with green make up, she was the hit of the party.
I had a party one year when I was a youngster, only four or five kids came but my Mother took us all the Liberty theater to see "Red Ryder."
Today was the last check up with orthopedic surgeon and I got a clean bill of health on my new bionic hip. Since I've been coughing like I had whooping cough or smoking, I decided to see the family doctor and get checked out, a little congestion in lungs taken care of with regiment of pills. Chest x-ray was good but blood work not so, seems I have to go on low fat diet, triglycerides are out of wack and have to take dose of vitamin D every day.
Guess I better change my ways if I want to keep having Birthday Parties.