Remembering Dad

The Arch–My grandma lived in Popular Bluff, MO and we would go to visit her at least three or four times every year and we usually drove straight down 55 from Chicago to St. Louis and the first one who saw the St. Louis Arch got ice cream. Of course, the reality was that we all got ice cream, but my brother and I always competed to see who would see the glistening aluminum arch first. The Arch was special to my parents because it was completed the October after they were married so there first few trips to St. Louis together they saw it being built.

The Zoo–My dad was the ultimate animal lover and no matter what town we were in we had to go to the zoo. We visited zoos in Alabama, Florida, Texas, and every state in between. However, no matter how many zoos we visited, the St. Louis zoo was always our favorite because it was the one we visited most often. We would go to the zoo several times a year and my dad always loved the bears. The tradition of visiting the zoo continued after my kids were born and we visited Lincoln Park Zoo together and my parents took them visit the zoo.

Family Vacations–We went on a family vacation almost every year I was growing up. We visited Gettysburg, Galveston, Iowa, and a host of other states. One of the most memorable trips was to the south when I was a kid. We visited the U.S.S. Mobile and visited the ocean. On our way home, we were camping when a tremendous storm came up and my brother got thrown off the bed and cut his head on the table. We rushed him to the hospital where we found out that we were actually camping out in a hurricane. Another great memory was visiting St. Augustine, FL and looking out at the ocean with my dad. We also visited Sea World on one trip and I remember it was the first time I realized that there was a whole other world out there under the sea. My parents really believed that vacations should be educational so they tried to make sure that at least a little learning was thrown in on each vacation.

Stuck in the snow–One trip to Poplar Bluff, MO we ended up stuck on the highway because it was shut down. The snow had already stopped, but traffic for miles came to a grinding halt and everyone got up and out of their cars and were walking around. Oddly enough, my father ran into a couple of his friends from his hometown and chatted with them until traffic started moving again.

Donuts with Dad–Until I discovered Krispy Kremes, I thought the absolute best glazed donuts in the world were made in this little donut shop in Poplar Bluff, MO. Every morning while we were in Poplar Bluff, we’d go to the donut store and get donuts for the extended family. Not only did my grandmother live in Poplar Bluff, my dad had several aunts and a brother living in town so there was always someone to visit.

Locks and Eagles–Once my dad retired, he loved going to the river to watch the boats go through the locks and dams and to see the eagles soaring along the Mississippi. Most of the time when we went out to visit, we either drive out to the river to watch the boats or to see the eagles. My parents always took the kids out to the river when they were younger and some of there most treasured memories are of going to the river with their grandfather.

Daddy’s Motorcycle–My dad wasn’t the type of person you’d think would end up with a motorcycle, but he had several while I was growing up that he used to commute to work and to take trips with my mom and dad. My dad’s motorcyling days came to an abrupt end on the day he had a serious wreck on his bike and his outline was scorched into the earth. He wasn’t seriously injured, but he took it as a sign that he should give up the bike.

Have a happy birthday Daddy, wherever you are.