Sunday (June 21) is a
double day – Father’s Day and the Summer Solstice. It got me thinking about the summers when I
was a child and some of the things we did during the summer with my dad. For me those are good memories.
My dad was a typical
father of the 1950’s. He accepted the
fact that he had three daughters and no sons by becoming the favorite uncle of
the 11 boys who were my cousins. He
spent long hours at work and relaxed at home.
We took a two week vacation, and almost every year traveled to Iowa to
see my mom’s family. That’s where my
summer memories begin – I became the family navigator at the age of five, since
my mom was unable to read a map. It gave
me, the oldest, the privilege of sitting in the front seat of the car so I
could help Daddy find where we were going.
As I grew, the route changed because the interstate highway system was
being developed. One of the best memories
was the restaurant in Joliet, IL, that served PB & J sandwiches! It was at that restaurant that I learned
about tipping. |
| Courtesy of Firefly |
Two of my dad’s summer
memories were at the root of two of my favorite summer memories. Chasing and catching fireflies. We’d put them in a jar with holes in the lid
and let them go before we went in to wash our feet and go to bed. The other had to do with the Fourth of July
celebrations. Fireworks were outlawed in
Ohio, but sparklers were okay. Dad purchased
several boxes of sparklers each year, and we ran about the yard waving our
magic wands as the soft darkness grew darker.
Our yard in northeast Ohio was surrounded by trees, trees that we
climbed during the day skinning elbows and knees, scratching arms and legs on
the rough bark. We called the trees
surrounding the yard “The Jungle.”
My dad has been physically
gone from my life for 37 years. But he
lives on in the memories and stories I have.
When he left this earthly plane he became my son’s Guardian Angel. Although my son never knew his grandpa, he
shares many traits with my dad. And I
know in my heart that Dad would have been the best grandpa in the whole world.
Happy Father’s Day,
Dad! Happy Solstice, Everyone! Go outside and make some memories with your
family.
