Since it is still the month to remember “DAD” just thought I would add a few more memories… to the “pages of time.”
When I was just six (6) years of age, and the oldest of three children – I was the “do for others” and the number one “go-for” of the family.
The house that we were living in, had some “Honey Do Jobs” and with a hardware store within walking distance for me – you guessed right – I was the designated “go-for-it-err.”
Some things, I could easily remember – but some things needed to be written down. And, since the store owner knew who we were – and now that I think about it – everybody ran a tab – so that payment was made later. (I never carried money with me.)
On these jobs – there was no time for me to walk – I had to run and hurry.
Which brings me to the next memory of walking fast – every time I went with my DAD – I was doing a fast half run-walk – just to keep up with him.
Dad did three (3) stints in the Army – and he must have done a heck- of -a- lot of marching – he had the longest walk stride – so fast – that anyone walking with him, would be out of breath just trying to keep up with him.
I am not complaining but, rather am so glad, that I had to always go so fast… when I was young – that kind of put me in training for the getting older stage of life … so as to be able to still move… when I reach the coming older years.
By walking fast then, now a days… my body just naturally wants to go faster – always walking or moving faster just to do something and be able to get things done… today!
No sense in just “Lollygagging” and turning into a “Slowpoke!”
When it came to my working for a living and having to take the bus or street-car – I’m grateful and thankful… that I was able to run fast enough to catch the up -coning bus and or street-car.
I can still remember those street-cars here in St. Louis, they were fun!
Thanks “DAD” for seeing to it – that I “NOW” move fast and in a hurry… I am not just an “OLD” slow poke… when I continue to keep this old bag of bones moving just as fast as is possible … always trying to get where ever I am needed!
I am giving THANKS to our Almighty Yahweh… for, all of HIS help!
How many of us can say – My Dad is the best “Chef!”
My Dad worked at some of the best restaurants here in Saint Louis, and he received his basic training in cooking while enlisted in the US Army.
He said that… when he went to see, if he could enlist… as he was not really as old as you were suppose to be… he had to say he was older than he was, because of the TIMES at that TIME… things were really pretty bad here in AMERICA… so he just had to enlist to help out his family in OHIO … and so… my FATHER to be… had the very GOOD LUCK… to have been accepted.
As a little kid – the one thing that I always loved to have to eat, was called a “Floating Island” –
As I remember…a puff of egg-whites whipped up in mounds to look like little islands… sitting on top of a delicious custard.
This was something as a kid – I would rather have than candy.
As much as I have always enjoyed – I never tried to make. My guess is that – if you didn’t know how – you would for sure stand the chance of burning the custard.
So, I just never attempted, but after looking at recipes – I just may try using a new recipe, that I found for the custard and will hope for excellent results.
What always amazed me was that when ever I would ask my Dad about a recipe – he could just tell me the list of ingredients and just how to make that and or any item I was inquiring about – and if he was at “my home” – he would just make what I was asking about – knew all the exact amounts and have everything going – no wasting of time looking up amounts and how or what to do.
It was so much fun for us kids to be seated around the kitchen table and watch “MY DAD” work magic with the food we all liked – and every so often – he would give one us a spoon of something good to lick off – and when he was making candy – he would take turns giving each of us a small amount of candy making in the “testing stage” called the “soft ball ” stage… till it got to the “hard ball” stage and we were the best behaved kids – patiently waiting our turn to test – we would always be ready to be the “tester” – forever!
The “Floating Island” and the taste … that I remember is calling for me to try to make.
No matter what happens – I will have to eat my “mistakes” and or… I’ll be enjoying a real good memory – something that my “DADDY” could make for us, and we would always enjoy and remember forever!
“Floating Islands” and maybe just hopefully… the very exact way, with all of that extra “LOVE” that our “DADDY” would cook for his family and others … so very many delicious meals the way “DAD” made for us… are really what “DREAMS” are made of… delicious memories!
Did you ever take the time to think about the different people in your LIFE and or Family?
Have you ever given a second thought as to the members of your very own family… especially when you were a very young child?
Being the oldest child in our family… I was always around to see and hear everything that was going on… whether or not everyone knew… that I was watching and or listening?
I guess that I could have been called a busy-body but… as I was paying attention to what was going on… I did keep my mouth shut… and my “two-cents” to myself… everyone probably just thought… that I was not listening and remembering everything as it was happening, which is a very good thing.
As I remember things, that so very many others in the family … do not seem to remember correctly, and now make all kinds of dumb excuses, for not maybe being there… when such a thing happened, or just were not really paying any attention to just being alive… and storing good memories… that would last forever!
In the early 1940’s – my DAD built for my brothers and myself – a one of a kind “Swing with a Water Spray” –
That we used to swing and as swinging we would sing – for the whole wide world …to hear us.
Back then I remember my Mom saying that in the winter time some people left the outside water faucet on all through the freezing weather so that their pipes would not freeze.
Those were the days that for a flat monthly rate… you could use however much water you wanted.
Today, you pay for every drop, and a whole lot of extra charges.
Anyway, getting back to our… one of a kind swing, especially built, just for us!
There was a tree in the center of the right side of the back yard – so…
I’m guessing at about the six-foot mark up – my “DAD” drilled an inch diameter straight through. Then…Using pipe that he ran in the hole to be the top piece for the swing.
On each side of the tree, he would set up for us… one swing, making this a two swinger swing-set.
He added fittings on the ends to add a five-foot length across, with corner fittings to each of the tops to add the four corner six-foot pieces.
At about the four-foot up from the ground, he added a bracing pipe. There was concrete footings … at the four corners – this swing-set was not going anywhere, ever!
All the pipes in the areas where we would be swinging had small holes, so that when he would turn on the water hose, that he had attached to one corner of the swing-set…
(this was some kind of special connection) –
We would be singing in the rain!
And what fun we had!
Better than a small backyard “kid’s pool.”
That swing- set lasted till we sold the place, almost twenty years later.
Dad was the original “Handy Man” – he could fix almost anything – and don’t forget …
He was also “LOVED” for being our all around best “Chef!”
Thank You!”
The last few days have felt summery enough to most Americans, but the season is only getting started Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 21 is the summer solstice — the longest daylight hours of the year and the official start of summer. The North Pole will tilt closest to the sun at 5:14 a.m. EDT, 4:14 a.m. CDT or 2:14 a.m. PDT. The sun will appear to be directly over the Tropic of Cancer — its furthest point to the north all year.
That’s the exact moment astronomical summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere. (Temperature-based meteorological summer, used mainly by researchers who study weather and climate, began on June 1.)
The summer solstice brings the longest daylight hours of the year. The further North you are from the equator, the more daylight you’ll get. Daylight hours will gradually shorten until the winter solstice in December.
Solstices and seasons happen because of the Earth’s tilt. You can think of Earth’s axis as an imaginary pole through the center of the planet from top to bottom, NASA explains. Earth spins around this pole, making one turn each day and causing day and night.
That axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun in June, causing more direct light and warmer temperatures.
People have been tracking and celebrating the sun’s progress for a very long time. One of the reasons people built monuments like Stonehenge in England and the Torreon in Machu Picchu was to follow the sun’s path and predict its movements, NASA says.
Celebrations continue today around the world — some with a high-tech twist. English Heritage, which looks after Stonehenge, plans to livestream sunrise and sunset from the ancient stone circle. Thousands flock to the monument each year to celebrate the solstice, though in-person revelry was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
This is a… “Day is DONE” photo, as some one at the Airport caught all of us just relaxing … near one of the “Parking Lots” and wanted a photo of us.
Most probably… we are thinking and talking about… what we will be preparing for the evening meal… and checking with each other as to what they were hoping for… something fast and easy to prepare… as it is such a nice day coming to an end, and it is just so nice… to just hang out, for a while… doing nothing special!
This is 1990’s at Al’s Air Port –
At just the right time of the day…in that latter part of the day – we can be, and so often take our selves, to an area that we are comfortable, and it is enjoyable to just hang out – sometimes a Pilot either getting ready to “fly out” and or maybe just a new pilot that is practicing their “take offs and landings!”
As we are just sitting and taking it easy…looks like our little “Jaime” is already taking 40 wink’s… till her bed-time?
This looks like a very “HAPPY FATHERS’ DAY” – family all around – as “#1 son Alan” is now… taking this picture –
Father, Mother and children and even our old “Grandma ME” in the picture!
This is what I call the “GOOD LIFE” – when all the “FAMILY” celebrate being a family every day … and that you can take in some of the freshest of fresh air in the Country… as you breathe in such a wonderful and fresh breath of “LIFE!”
Can you read “HAND-SIGNALS” –
Looks like our little Alyssa… is sending a hand-signal to Daddy?
They must have some extra special type or kind of message system going on that…
all the rest of us… do not know??
What about you???
Daddy takes time to play with the newest addition to the FAMILY –
That is baby AL and big brother Lee Jr. – all are down on the knees – doing what babies do naturally – – they try to get from where they are – to as far away – – just as if they can – – and – as fast as they can crawling – – they are crawling so fast –
that even a snail will win this race!
This is Fort Lauderdale, Florida –
the land of strong SUNSHINE – as you can see from the strong light coming in.
That side of the house is the east side and being a mile from the ocean – – and Lake Melba – just across the street – –
– too much light is just too much – –
– when you are trying to take photos of the FAMILY –
and ME – not too well experienced in the proper way to take photos that will be lasting for a LIFE TIME –
because these PHOTOS were taken at least 50 years ago!
So… the date on the back of the photo was 04-05-1962…
Happy Father’s Day to; Lee Sr., Lee Jr., AL and to all those Fathers –
who will be celebrating Father’s Day this coming Sunday – – June 19th, 2022.
May the Almighty Yahweh, bless each and every family … today…
with all the Blessings, that they need…
to be just the best of the best families … now and forever!