Retro Where's Waldo

Though the image is of a time long past, I think I can correctly identify 5 of the 11 persons.  Can you find me in the crowd?  Can you name everyone, or even anyone, in the picture?  

The automobile is Dad's VW, of course. Uncle John is standing tallest, Linda and Kathy the only two girls, left and right.  Dave with tongue out, thumbs in ears, finger antlers, and Minnesota sweatshirt. I am sitting on hood, with the help of......a cousin?  Mark with cheesy smile behind Kathy?  Other four are also cousins?  

One For All, and All For One... or the Four Stooges?

It had been six years since the four of us siblings were all together. I really really enjoyed seeing Dave and Kath and Tim last week when I visited Dad and Ella in Iowa. We all laughed hard several times during out time together, telling stories, sharing memories, looking at old pictures, and celebrating Tim's birthday. Dad has some real photographic treasures, and he was kind enough to share them with us. I had never before seen the pictures of us as little children. My, how we have changed.

Oh, boy, did I love that little red bike. It was a girl's bike (Kathy rode it before me) and the tires were solid rubber, but I remember the first time riding it without assistance -- no training wheels and no adult running alongside -- and it was glorious.

I distinctly remember a time when my always tentative balance was jeopardized by a quick turn of the handlebars. In that very instant I felt an epic (for my young age) moment of decision. I could succumb to the inevitable and "bail out" to avoid the pain and embarrassment of a crash, or I could try something new. I remember standing and pedaling with all my might, all the while it seemed that I was leaning over at a 45 degree angle. I felt risky, committed, striving, focused, and consciously choosing to succeed rather than fail. To my amazement and delight I DID succeed, I DID stay upright. Some days I think back on that day and think it has never been better than that.

How Hot is it in Iowa?

While visiting my parents in Iowa, taking a relaxing break from my oh-so-hectic life, I was "invited" to help my Dad assemble a prefab shed. "It should only take a little while." he said, disguising the true nature of the job.

But by the end of the day, we had made quite a bit of progress, as you can see. You might also see how red and sweaty I look, and how clean and cool they look.

It would be easy, from these pictures, to think that I had done all the work while they stood idly by and offered suggestions, and even took a lunch-break to get outta the heat while I labored away.

But of course, that is NOT the case. All of us worked hard and sweat profusely and we were equally red-in-the-face by the time we were through for the day. If anything, those guys worked harder than I did. However, I have learned that not everybody reads to the very end of the story, so we will see if the truth of this story gets conveyed or not. :-)

By the way, no way was it only 92 degrees. 100 degrees is much more accurate, but even that doesn't capture the feeling of the direct sunlight beating down on us while we swam through the humid air in our sweat-soaked clothes.

Complimenting Our Father...

My brother Tim paid the highest compliment to our father when he sent me this picture and asked, "Do you think you and Dad look alike?"

"Not actually," I thought to myself, "you just caught Dad on a day when he looked unusually handsome."

I just crack myself up! In reality I am proud to be like my father in anyway possible, but in almost every way feel that I fall short. I know that one thing we share in common, though, is an appreciation for the life we've been given. With all the highs and lows, victories and defeats, good times and bad, I'm grateful for every stinking little minute of my time above ground. I've often heard Dad express the very similar sentiment, in more eloquent fashion.

Well here's to you, Dad, for all the good modeling you've provided to me (and to all of us kids, if I can be so bold as to speak for the others), and for all the "above-ground" time we have shared together.