Lungs for Mandy

DON’T FORGET TO RSVP FOR JUNE 15. THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello there.

Today is friday and it will be my first tent-camping trip since last year. I am really looking forward to the trip except the forecast looks like rain and hail. Hmm, hopefully the forecasters are wrong. I’ve been running around like a chicken with her head cut-off trying to get everything prepared. We forgot to get wood this week and that seems like the biggest problem. That and the possibility of rain. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Nashville was a lot of fun. I would really like to return there sometime to spend more time. Everyone there was friendly as can  be-I guess that is how southerners operate.

Only fifteen days until the party and I am soooooooo excited to see everyone. The park where the event is being held is a really nice place.

I used to take Sosa there as a puppy and he would chase the birds and squirrels in circles like you wouldn’t believe. He never ever gave up, but he also never got a bird. He was lucky enough to get a few squirrels to my dismay. See I love little squirrels as long as they are not trying to bury their nuts in my plants or chewing on my bbq pit lid. Yes they chew on my bbq pit when there is nothing else to chew on. Last week I kept hearing this loud bang on the balcony. When I peeked out the squirrels were jumping off the roof and trying to get to the bird feeder.. Man those little things are crazy I think they are obsessed with food. Hey!  kind of like me. I’ve since removed the bird feeder because it was just a pain in the butt with the squirrels obsessing about the seed and the birds eating a pooing all over the place. I find it amazing that I live in the city because there are so many wild things in my ‘hood. Last night on my way home I saw a coyote climbing up the bank of River Des Peres (aka:River de’ Poop) The big guy really looked lost and confused, but I wasn’t about to get out and give him directions. I guess I could have loaned him the GPS.

Today is G’Bob’s birthday, Happy Birthday Dad. Wish you were here. Your birthday present is in the mail and should arrive tomorrow. It’s hard to believe that my father is 78 years old. the hardest drinking, hitting man you could ever meet. When I was 17 and feeling my oats one day my Dad and I had one of those confrontations, you know he tells you to do something, you drag your feet on it and he tells you again in a louder,deeper voice, still you don’t act and finally he is in your face yelling. Well let me tell you on this particular day I had had enough so I kinda of gave him that challenge look and think I even kind of drew my arms up into a posturing (fighting) stance. That’s all it took Bammo, remember how on the old Batman show they’d show those little signs when they would be fighting? (bammo, socko, etc) Well like I said it was three hits, him hitting me, me falling backward going through a door with the door frame and everything and me finally hitting the floor on top of the soda bottles. Holy Cow, did I see stars and darkness, the only time I ever have been knocked out and I’ve been hit in the head with rocks, fists and even a shovel and have never been knocked out. Today you’d be locked up for child abuse but in those days it was known as teaching respect. Those that know my son Steve might want to ask him HOW his Dad taught him about respect.

Since that day my respect and love for my Dad has never been in question. You have to respect a guy who was raised in an abusive orphanage, self taught himself how to repair and install almost anything and raised 4 boys who have all become great fathers themselves. I wanted to just take a moment and wish my Dad a very happy birthday and let him know I love him very much and to Thank him for everything he has and continues to teach me.

I’m sure Mandy won’t mind me sharing with everyone.

Love you Pop

Your number 1 son

F

Hello there. I hope you had a nice holiday even though the weather has been terrible. It seems like it has been crazy everywhere. Last night the storms were pretty scary. I thought about going to the basement but decided that the bed felt too nice and comfy to leave. This morning I left St Louis around 10am and arrived here in Nashville around 3 o’clock. I rained almost the entire drive, but it was still nice to be on the road. Road trips are my favorite. I guess it is from my childhood when we drove everywhere. Back then I hated it but now I can hardly think of anything I like better than seeing the country by automobile. Kentucky seems like a real pretty state and Nashville is okay so far. We’ll probably go enjoy the city more tomorrow.

Today I was reminded of Thanksgiving last year and our drive to Georgia to see my grandfather.  My grandfather Bob or as I refer to him Stinky has to be one of the coolest guys in the world and I love to visit him and his wife Carla, but last year I was feeling really bad. It was almost impossible to walk up the stairs to get to the spare room. Honestly, I really don’t remember the visit because I was so tired and unable to breathe. I am so fortunate that I made it through to a second transplant now I can go visit without the fear of  breathlessness.  I want to thank Gramps and his friends for finding me a wheelchair so I could be out and enjoy some of the scenery of Georgia except for the deceased bear (YUCK). THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

I didn’t realize that my great-uncle Frank was a Marine. I wish I knew more about my family tree, but it seems so confusing with all the different branches. I love the stories my Aunt Emma and grandmother used to tell when I was a kid. See they grew up in the country — the real country where they used to ride cows. REALLY.

Well, I better hit the sack. I am pretty tired after being on the road all day without a nap and tomorrow seems like it is going to be a long day. Take it easy. Let’s keep Susan (Michael’s Mom) in our thoughts as she goes through knee surgery tomorrow. And I hope you are still praying for Michael to get his second transplant VERY soon.

Hopefully everyone got to have some family time between the raindrops and tornadoes. It’s hard to believe that there have been 41 tornadoes in Missouri over the weekend. Let’s keep those folks in our prayers.

Yesterday, Saturday, Laurie and I got started early. We went to Jefferson Barracks Park and visited the grave site of my name sake (uncle)  and brother in law B. K. JB is an amazing place, a lovely but very sad place.  After driving around for a while (Laurie was the map reader) we located brother in law Bob’s resting place. He served our country in the USMC and always had the Marine Corp ethic, hard worker, great family man and always have a can-do attitude. A funny story about Bob. When Laurie and I were first married Bob found me a part time job, imagine my surprise when the job turned out to be loading 100 pound sacks, I think I lasted til lunch.

My Uncle Frank, G Bob’s older brother served in War World 2 as a gunner on a tank. I never got to meet him as he passed away in 1949 a drowning victim in the Mississippi. There were a lot of stories but the one thing that always remains the same is that he was shell shocked when he returned from the war. Imagine being in a steel tank listening to the percussion from the tanks gun. And in WW II I’m sure there was no noise reduction protecton. It was the first time I had ever been to visit him and it was very strange to see my name on a headstone. He loved the river and his site overlooks the River.  I wish I had gotten the opportunity to meet him. My Dad was only 17 when his older brother passed away at a young age of 24.

After JB we tried to get Mandy out but she was snuggled in with the rain and getting ready for her trip. So we ended up going to the Bread Company and installing some signs on new listings. 

We returned home picked up Alex (his turn) went to a Pizza joint for dinner and Alex got to spend some of his savings on video games.

Sunday, we finished planting the garden, vacuumed the pool, BBQ’d some pork steaks and just hung out

As we all celebrate Memorial Day remember the reason for this great holiday. Call a veteran and say Thanks or visit JB and take some flags. There is some amazing history there.

Dad