This picture of dad reminds me of a time when he seemed so full of life. He must have been around 35 or younger. Life was good. Looking at him I realize how well he fit in in Connecticut. He could go anywhere and be welcomed, in the world. I can't understand how or why life threw so many trials his way. He was a good man, he deserved a good and long life with out all the crude putting it nicely. He looks like you sister swayco. Handsome, beautiful and so positive and to think the seeds of his fate had already been planted. I was still his son, not a child from another marriage, still the apple of his eye. I do like the memories from this time they are of happier man with out the baggage of a hard life. Don't get me wrong dad still shone brightly but it was a different light after we left Connecticut, for me anyways.
is that a slim jim or what?
I am still wishing one of me aunts or uncles will join in with tales of a younger Ray
5 comments:
I LOVE this picture...I've never seen it before. It is quintessential Dad, with the window rolled down in that old blue van, chewing a slim jim (though a cigar wouldn't be out of the question)and drinking a cold one. Thank you for posting this picture.
I've debated, but have to say I find your comment about "not a child from another marriage" a bit offensive as that is not how Dad ever thought of me or John. I think that might reflect some of YOUR thoughts & feelings on the situation, but Dad made his choices and I don't think he'd want anyone looking back on his life feeling sorry for him for the "crude" he had to deal with. We all have crude to deal with in our life and most of Dad's "crude" came about from adult choices that he made, aka consequences. He may have chose to deal with things differently if he could, but I never heard him give any kind of remorse for his life experiences. Dad was too smart to go down that path.
In some ways, I think his light shone brightest at the end, when all of his kids were there together as a family, as he reveled in the joy of meeting his Lord & Savior face-to-face, and as his Faith sustained him through his trials, rather than doing it on his own.
Hi Dana what I ment by a child from anouther marriage was not ment to afend just refelcking on what happen with the presures of a new wife on dad and how it changed my relationship with dad.I call it the stockhome syndrome after a long enough time and enough presure thing changed for me and dad. maybe previous marriage would of been better.
heres hoping you and yours the best
adem
dad was like king Author for me it wasnt so much his choices but those of the ones he loved that may have thickend his hide a littel. Or it could be just a fantise of a littel boy to think dad was less conflicted at 35 and shone more brightly for me.No dought he was a shining star at the end ready to imbrace the lord
Slim Jim?, Cigar?, Neither...
that there is a Pretzel Stick... he was crazy about them there for a while. I will also point out that only on really hot days... and only about 1 an hour would beer factor into Dad's driving behavior. He did love driving though. Some of my favorite memories are of driving with Dad. Often I'd be the only person awake other than him... everyone else passed out from endless boring miles in a hot car.
good times
Robert
my favorite memories was sleeping on those long trips Id camp out next to him when ever I could and sleep .I can still feel his fingers runing threw my hair as I drifted in and out of sleep. pretzel and a cool one spot on Icant rember dad ever smoking around me
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