Yesterday was the second anniversary of my father’s passing. I remember every detail of his last hours, as Meredith and I sat with him and held his hands, stroked his forehead and told him we loved him. I miss him. That’s an understatement. I miss my mom. Both gone within 18 months of each other.
Dad is with his father – my grandfather – in this photo. I’m sure it was taken out at the lake, where they built their cottage, the first cottage on that lake. I never knew my grandfather, as he died before I was born. But I do know my father adored him. So I adore him. His close friend was the poet Edgar Guest – they played cards together. They were so close that my grandparents asked him to be my father’s godfather.
This is one of my favorite pictures of my handsome father. And I love looking at my grandfather’s kind and gentle face.
Miss you Dad. Thank you for being my dad.
It’s insanely windy out there and you know that I am very edgy when that happens. There’s a high wind warning until 6 pm and the winds were so intense last night that they woke me up. It rained torrentially all day yesterday, as well.
I’ll be glad when this is over. I haven’t opened the blinds. I’ve got the radio blaring to cover up the sound of the wind.
Do. Not. Like.
I’m currently lapping up all the details as to the news of Manafort’s indictment. I predicted, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this, that he would be the first one to topple.
Happy Monday.
I am doing a happy dance about the indictment! This has been so long in. coming. I was beginning to despair. Today is a hopeful day.
It is, indeed!
Your Dad’s and Grandfather’s picture is precious. Both handsome guys they are!
Yes you are getting wind and rain from that horrible storm hitting the east . Good day to bake something tasty and drink coffee or tea. Maybe looking at ur New Orleans photos would make u feel happy and warm! Take care, Becky
Yes, I know all about the storm! It’s been going on for about 36 hours now. Lots of power outages around here and, of course, closer to the shore.
I think the loss of a parent never leaves us. I do love that photo. Hope that wind dies down and you can relax. We had high winds last night but its cold and calmer this morning. Annie is sleeping in the sunshine. Hugs!
It’s very unsettling here and I feel housebound, as well. Oh well.
I have photos like this of my dad and uncles with my grandpa and grandma before they left to do their service stints. Aren’t they amazing photos? I don’t know if it is the black and white or the memories, but I never tire of these yesteryear photos.
My dad has been gone 20 years. I have his framed high school photo on my bedroom wall and everyday I tell him good morning and good night. I miss him so much sometimes that it hurts.
Wrapping you in hugs today. Meredith, too.
We never stop missing our loved ones who have moved on.
Thinking of you as you remember your sweet dad. I hope you feel the love from your readers as we hold you in our hearts. Peace to you today.
We’ve had wind warnings off and on for weeks now – totally unusual for our area. This is something that often happens on the coast but we’re protected by the Rocky Mountains, so not sure why wind has been an issue this year. I hate it too as we are in the forest and surrounded by huge trees so though they bounce around and dance in the wind, it’s unnerving knowing in any second, one could come tumbling down. Ugh. Hope your warning ends soon.
CNN is on today at our house and will likely be on all day while I wash then fold the laundry, dust the bookshelves, vacuum the floors, write blog posts, create our grocery list, decorate our veranda and front hall for Halloween, create our Christmas list, choose our Christmas cards for the year, order another Christmas gift on line, read and do a bit of work on my day off as I’m trying to get ahead so we can take a holiday in a couple of weeks. It will be on so we can learn what has happened and what will happen now. An interesting day indeed!
Hugs to you Claudia. X Chy
Very interesting, Chy! I’m glued to twitter and the news.
Yes, the reason I don’t like the wind – which I used to love hearing – is that we are surrounded by trees and some are very close to the house. I understand.
Welcome home, Claudia. I love this photo of your Dad and Grandfather. And I remember you mentioning before that Edgar Guest was your Dad’s godfather. I love his work and have so many of his poetry books. I need to check and make sure I have your address saved. I picked up a little something that made me think of you. Oh, and the wind is really bad here, too. I’ll be glad when it passes.
I’ll be SO glad when it passes! The sun just came out, which gives me hope. Th clouds look like they’re traveling very quickly.
The wind is commanding of our senses, isn’t it? One can’t put it out of their mind. It looks like a mighty storm you are experiencing. Beautiful picture you shared. Thinking of you and Meredith.
Did you see the WSJ last week and what they wrote re: Mueller and his investigation? Not that it is a shock, but so disappointing to see….. I have had MSNBC on for a few minutes every hour, but just can’t take it constantly. Makes my stomach hurt.
Even with the wind howling, I hope you can make it a good Monday!
It’s a huge storm!
I am tremendously disappointed by the WSJ – I believe it’s owned by Rupert Murdoch. And we all know his leanings.
That is a really cool pic of your Dad and Grandfather! I love old photos…especially black and white ones. Well…I always had a sneaking suspicion that Manafort would be indicted for something. This will be interesting to follow. It’s really windy here too…it gives me the chills just to look outside. Really cold here today. Enjoy your day! ;)
The dominoes are beginning to fall, Donnamae.
You certainly come from good-looking people, Claudia. Your Dad here – a handsome young serviceman! And your Grandpa too. In fact I think I see a little of you in his face – the eyes maybe? Do you know if this was taken when your Dad was home on a shipping-out furlough? It looks maybe this was the case. Today must be bittersweet for you, I’m sure. I lost my parents within 16 months of each other so I think I can relate. Wish I could tell BOTH of them how right they were about so many things. Things I hear myself telling my niece & nephew now – and they both react the same way I did when I was in my 20s & hearing it from my parents – with rolling of eyes and a “Oh, Aunt Janet…” I guess turnabout IS fair play – haha! I can just hear my parents chuckling somewhere right now. What a weekend, huh? Dark. Dreary. Chilly. Rainy. Windy. Did I miss an adjective? Yes – Gloomy! You couldn’t have ordered better Halloween weather! I LOVE the sound of the wind though. Here in my new place I’m on the top floor – the fifth – and the architecture is such that I hear the air swirling about most of the time. It’s only quiet on completely calm days. Have ALWAYS loved the sound of the wind – even as a little kid. But that’s probably because I’ve never lived in tornado or hurricane country. And I DON’T live in a house surrounded by trees. I can definitely appreciate the difference. Have been following today’s good news [finally] on MSNBC & Twitter all morning & trying not to be too gleeful about it. Because we still have a long road ahead of us. But I will quote Winston Churchill [right after Pearl Harbor]: “It may not be the beginning of the end. But it IS the end of the beginning…” Peace. 🇺🇸
#Resist
I don’t know for sure, but I imagine it was taken right before he shipped out. Because then he was gone for four years. I learned from a comment by my cousin, Gordon (named after my dad), that when Dad was in Burma fighting, his family didn’t get mail from him for a long time and thought he’d been killed. Dad never told me that, but he didn’t talk much about the war until very late in his life.
As for the wind – I used to love hearing it. That was before I moved to a house surrounded by very old trees. We’ve gone through a lot of tree loss in the past few years and wind makes me very, very nervous.
I have my dad’s brown eyes and he had his dad’s brown eyes – so that resemblance makes sense.
Claudia, Your young father with his father…so sweet. I was thinking about my dad this morning while cleaning house. I never know what brings my parents into my mind at any given time. I understand your missing your parents and the close time of both their passings…as with my own . Hugs to you in your memory of your handsome father. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
Thank you so much for your kind words, Susie.
Your daddy was such a handsome man, Claudia.
I love old photos of loved ones. I put an old photo of my daddy on FB and one of my mom in the
early 1940s…then I looked at my photo and realize how much I look like my daddy.
Yes, we each miss our parents and family who have gone….. It is sobering to me.
Getting back to this crazy, stupid administration…I too, support Mueller in his work. (Keep it up sir!)
Maybe someone will flip and tell more to save their own skin? Now that would be fine with me.
Take care.
Katheryn
Rumor has it that Flynn has flipped and Papadopoulos, as well. Fingers crossed that those little rumors are true, Katheryn!
Your dad was such a handsome man….pictures like these are treasures…irreplaceable!…I don’t like high winds either Claudia…we have had trees come down here and knock the power out…it can be hours before it is on again!…fortunately we are not getting these winds but I read yesterday that they were expected in your area…as for Manafort…good riddence….next please!
Yes, exactly! Next, please!
What polar opposites you highlighted in today’s post, Claudia. Your Dad and Grandfather…honorable kind men. The other guy, smarmy and self-righteous. It will be good to see the orange Humpty Dumpty fall and not be put together again..
I don’t like wind either. Especially when it rains hard and the rain lashes against the house.
And to my father’s eternal credit, he was onto Trump long ago. He despised him. He would be enraged by what has been going on! My father had integrity, that’s for sure!
My heartfelt thoughts are with you Claudia as you remember the loss of your father. I empathize with you as it’s only been a year since my mom passed. May you be blessed with peace and thoughts of happier times.
Thank you, Denise. The same to you.
That picture of your father and grandfather is precious. We are all on edge here too. We have a tree in front and a few in the back yard. It seems like it should be dying down soon,hopefully!
Marilyn
I hope it’s calmer there today, Marilyn. It is here, thank goodness!
What a wonderful keepsake picture of your dad and granddad. Heard on the radio driving home tonight about the high winds and thought of you. I get the jitters being home alone when the wind is rattling the windows so hope it’s died down now for you. My husband has been gone the last 10 days and is currently in Tel Aviv for the next 9. We hard our first hard freeze yesterday and he phoned to tell me it’s a balmy 97 where he is! At least we don’t have gusting wind. Hang in there.
Finally stopped around 6 pm. It was very scary, but just a few small branches came down. Today is sunny and beautiful. Thanks, Kay.
My dad died in 95. Wish I had a picture like that of him. But he has visited me in recent years so I feel better from that. Once after several visits from him last year, I asked him to help me fid my lost sunglasses, as a joke, and next thing I knew I was seeing pictures of where they were! I could not believe it!! Dads never stop helping out or watching over.
How lovely and miraculous. I’m so glad he is visiting you. xo
Claudia ~ Love the picture. Reminds me of a picture I have of my dad. This is totally off the subject but do you read the blog or receive an email from Susan Branch? I was just reading her email/blog and she has the same stove (or similar) as you!!! You should check it out!
Yes, I’m a longtime Susan Branch reader. She is a California girl and her mom had a stove like hers, so when she had the opportunity to get one herself, she did.
Love that photo. Hugs for you! :]
Thank you, Brae!