They are experiencing their first Father's Day without a Dad in the world.
This is my 30th.
The man on the left is Arthur Eugene Jones, born 1918, died 1980. He's my Dad.
This is our 1960 family, with wife/Mom Sylvia, and with me, Celeste, Mitchell.
Art was far from perfect, and he died way too soon.
Art was far from perfect, and he died way too soon. But I learned about hard work from him, from watching him work hard, with his callused hands and sinewy muscles. He was physically small (his WWII Navy uniform fits me!) but quite strong. He would stretch out his arms, let a child hang on each wrist, and hold us up,feet dangling, turning and spinning like a human merry-go-round. Quite a way to impress one's 10 year friends!
Art was a janitor in a public school system, and ran the boilers that heated the school. I learned from him that there was no job I was 'too good for'---that all work was good work, and work was our purpose in this world. To work hard and be of service.
I did have to learn to run when he put his hand on his belt buckle.
But I also learned:
"Be prepared",
"Maintainence costs less than repairs"......
and "Don't draw to an inside straight".
I never did learn that idea of 'keeping a poker face'.
And I'm in uncharted territory now, being older already than he had the chance to be.
Art was far from perfect, and he died way too soon.
Nonetheless, 30 years later, Dad, Happy Father's Day, and thanks, and I love you.
Love always,
Your daughter, Renee
I always loved that picture of us...thanks for the memories! It does not seem like 30 years has passed, since Mitch came to our house in the middle of the night to tell me that Dad had died... little 3 year old Bryan was standing at the top of the staircase...wondering why we were crying!
ReplyDeleteSo again, thanks for the memories and....Happy Fathers' Day to our Dad...
Wow...I love you. Michele
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect tribute to a perfectly human dad. Your writing is beautiful and the pictures are also so expressive of who you are.
ReplyDelete