Sunday, June 17, 2007

Fathers' Day Re-run

                   .

                                     Dad

   My own father died accidentally when I was less than a year old, and Grandfather came to be known by me as "Dad". 

   He was very patient, having already raised my own father and my uncle, and I don't remember any swats by him, nor any serious rebukes. Yet he was a good example.

   He worked hard, five and half day per week at the office as an attorney for a title insurance company.  I used to walk with him when he walked the dogs.  By sitting on his lap while he read the Saturday Evening Post and pointed out words in advertisements I learned to read.  The first word I learned to read was not "run", or "spot" or "Dick" or "Jane" but GOODYEAR. The kids in the Campbell's Soup ads were my Dick and Jane.

   He rode the "Big Red" street car to work with such regularity that he became a favorite of the crew, and they would drop him off at our driveway, not a scheduled stop, on rainy days. 

   When he retired from the title company, he opened an Escrow service of his own.  I was hired to prepare the office and I went on my bicycle before school each morning and swept the office and emptied the waste baskets. 

   He ordered my first movie camera and started me on a hobby that I have loved all my life.  When I got a Jiffy Kodak for my first still camera, one of the first pictures I took was of Dad
                          

                            Step-father                   Own father

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy memories of your special "Dad".  I hope you have been spoiled today Chuck.  Happy father's day to you too.  Hugs, Terry x

Anonymous said...

    Wonderful photos and wonderful story. A happy day to you, Chuck.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay

Anonymous said...

Happy Father's Day, Chuck!!!  
Jackie

Anonymous said...

Nice story about Bumpa!  Happy Father's Day!  Love, Kate

Anonymous said...

Hope you are having a nice Father's Day Chuck. Paula

Anonymous said...

Happy Father's Day, Chuck. Just curious...did your mother's father tend to the tall, lanky mold your father and step-father appear to have been cut from?

wil

Anonymous said...

i do hope you had a great day:) have a good week

Deb

Anonymous said...

Sounds like he was a great Father to you. Hope you had a good day yesterday. Helen