Neighbor Tim, my friend from BFE, lost his father last week. Gary was in his mid-70's as was my father when he passed away. Guess that is a tough age to overcome. Tim will have many memories to carry with him as he now moves to the front of the class, generationally speaking.
It is almost incomprehensible to think of my father as a kid. He was always big, towering over us and when we boys caught up with him in size, he still seemed to tower in other ways. How fun it would be to slip into a time machine and go back to the late 20's early 30's and hunker down and chat with this kid.
It is almost incomprehensible to think of my father as a kid. He was always big, towering over us and when we boys caught up with him in size, he still seemed to tower in other ways. How fun it would be to slip into a time machine and go back to the late 20's early 30's and hunker down and chat with this kid.
Where ya' goin' Herbie? You are all dressed up. Is it church? I see you have newsboy hat and looks like you are going to be a tall lanky, kid. Your sport coat is just about too small. Probably play basketball in school and college.
Who is your buddy? This is Smithshire, right? And who's dog is that? You had a nice smile here; are ya a happy kid?
You wearing glasses? And is that the same cap you are holding in the top picture? And I guess that is your dog. What kind was it? Looks like a mutt.
School picture, right? Hair combed back. Top button buttoned. Looks like a kind of vest you are wearing. How old are you here?
There are a thousand questions I'd ask this kid. What were his dreams? What did he want? How did he spend his freetime? Who were his friends?
The kids growing up today are surrounded every minute by people with phones. And those phones all have cameras. This generation will be the most photoed, most videoed group of kids ever in the history of people. But it wasn't too long ago if you had a dozen pictures of yourself at a certain age you were pretty well covered. These are about the only ones I have of Dad as a kid. I'm sure more may exist, but not sure where.
I think there was a movie made quite a few years ago where someone goes back in time to when his parents were just kids dating. What is the point of all this? I don't know. But I do know that we are born, are kids, become adults, raise families and hopefully after a long well-lived life, we pass away so that new people can take our place. It is natural, it is right, and it serves to replenish.
Winston Churchill said, "The longer you look back the farther you can look forward." And Tim, as long as we breathe, we are our fathers. They may pass away, but they live still in us.
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