A Beautiful Arrangement

I realized something about my brother this summer...

He inherited my mom and dad's green thumb.

Just look at this stunning bouquet fresh from Danny's garden.

I'm impressed. And it makes my dining room table look just fabulous.

Another good reason to keep my big table mister...

Thank You Jerri Lynn

Thank you Jerri Lynn for finding these photos.

It's funny how a little photo can bring back so many memories.

I'm especially loving the shorty shorts on my dad.

He was notorious for wearing shorty shorts well into the '90s.

Also, I notice mom's styrofoam cup which is surely filled with black coffee.

This is a trait I've now inherited from mom - 

except mine always has cream & Splenda in it too.

And check out my crimped hair. 

I told you I've had a long love affair with my crimper.

 

Moving on to the holiday season - flash forward 

a couple of years.  I could be wrong- but, I think Uncle Larry

took this photo.  He's always been the Christmas family photographer

at Great Grandma's Christmas Eve celebration.

I remember this dress.  TT and Grandma Johnson made it for me.

I remember the shiny fabric and 

how glamorous and pretty it made me feel.

The bottom was black velvet.  That was a really special dress.

...and I'll never forget the pink glasses.

Dad took me on that shopping trip.  At the time, I LOVED pink.

I convinced my father that those were the glasses I absolutely needed.

Then, I remember going home so proud of my decision and 

hearing mom say, "Dan, why would you let Nicole get pink glasses?  

You know redheads aren't supposed to wear pink!"

Well, mom was totally right because as I look back at these photos now...

Geez - those glasses were pretty unattractive.  But, what can you do?  

It's a character builder

and sure makes for good story now.

Happy Father's Day

 

In honor of Father's Day today, I thought I'd share some of my favorite memories of my dad.

I often wonder what life would be like if he was still here.  He didn't get to stay

nearly long enough.  But, I know everything happens for a reason that we'll never understand.

The most important thing dad taught everyone he knew was to live life to the fullest,

which is a perfect lesson from someone who will be forever young.

So, here it goes... my favorite memories:

Sledding:  Dad would take all the cousins and me and my brother sledding down Harris Hill.

The thermos filled with hot chocolate and mini marshmallows was a staple.  It was a giant green stainless steel thermos that he'd take to work with him.  

So, you got to feel like a grown up too.

I remember going with dad to get vanity plates for the 1972 baby blue Pinto station wagon

he had just bought.  I remember him laughing that the plates cost more than the car.

The plates read UGLY 72.  I still remember the dark blue interior.

Hiking by the Fox River.  Fishing for catfish.  Finding sticks in a "Y"

shape to rest the fishing pole.  Going into the railroad

tunnels, and dad scaring us all by saying Boogity in the tunnel & hearing it echo.

Seeing dad spinning around in his maroon desk chair 

listening to the new Nirvana album for the first time. 

We had a very important discussion one day.  I was trying to tell dad

that New Kids on the Block was the best band ever.  He

told me that they weren't very good and they would never last-- I strongly disagreed.

But, I can see now - you were right dad.

Jamming in the pick up truck on the way to Safari Market.  I'd cover my ears

because INXS was blasting out of the speakers.  Dad would laugh and tell me most kids 

would think their parents were cool for listening to loud music.

Swimming:  Lots of swimming.  The pool was one of dad's last projects.

I remember him leveling out the garden preparing for our pool, and how proud we 

all were when we got to swim in our own pool for the first time.  Dad would skyrocket 

Danny in the air  (Danny loved that).

Oh yeah, I remember the legendary jean shorts.  They were really short cut-offs.

He'd wear those while mowing & landscaping.  It was super cool when he'd add the straw hat

to the ensemble.

I remember the beards during the winter to stay warm.  The flannel shirts.

The long underwear. & the steel-toe boots.  And in the summer, the dark blue Hawaiian shirt

with the gold necklace.

My first motorcycle ride.  I remember sitting right in front of him 

on the seat with my hands on the handlebars.  

I'm pretty sure we went really slow.  But I'll always remember it.

Singing:  Dad did a lot singing.  I'll always remember that.

Thanks for all the memories dad.