Today marks the ninth anniversary of my Father’s, of blessed memory, passing. As is our custom, we spend this time at the cabin to remember the man the best way we can, in his element. We will lift a glass of rhubarb wine around the bonfire and tell tall tales. Hopefully a friend or two of his will stop by and join us.
I usually plan some sort of project to do while there. Two years ago it was his memorial scrapbook. This year, I’ve got a couple of projects in mind. I’ll put a new wreath up too, of course.
My memorial project is a memory box for Fritz. Dad kept his collar and of course lots of pics of his best friend. I made a dog tag for Fritz and bought some pet themed scrapbook supplies to finish the shadow box frame I picked up for this project. I’ll be able to display it on the wall. Something that was important to Dad, in honor of both of them.
My other special project is going to be updating the 12v lighting. I purchased some light sockets to convert the 3 propane lamps to battery/solar power. Everything I do will be reversible as I don’t want to permanently alter them. If need be, I’ll be able to pull the sockets out and replace the mantles and use the propane again. I also got a switch so these will be able to easily turn on/off.
Over the years I have installed a hodge podge of 12v lighting, over the sink, stove and sun room. I’ll be replacing the lights over the sink and stove with these nice RV lights. Easy single or double light switches for adjustable brightness. Then I’ll update the sun room with one of the lights I took down. That way the kids will have a light over their bed. Every light downstairs will have a switch instead of alligator clips! 👍🏼
In addition, I want to make a hanging light for the center of the cabin. It will be something like the one I made for Jake’s cabin. I just have to finalize a design. I want it to be dual power, AC & DC so either way we can have the light on. But this project will probably be done at a later date.
My cousin by marriage, Dana, of blessed memory, was a petite, sweet, fiery, passionate woman who shared many of my own likes & dislikes. We were the same age as well. We lived far apart but whenever we were together there was no shortage of conversation.
Today she would be 50 years young.
She passed 15 days after her 38th birthday, far too young.
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways. Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun; of happy memories that I leave when life is done. ~Afterglow, Anonymous.
Somewhere around this time, half a century ago, my existence in this realm began. Newlyweds and Valentine’s Day and all…
This being a milestone year I’ve been thinking a lot lately about things like accomplishments, unfinished business and future things. Thinky things.
I like to think about this being the time that my parents were happy.
It was the only time, so far, that I’ve been to Canada. And with Canada’s draconian behaviour of late, I’m not planning on going again.
I was born in the snow and cold. (Well not literally, like my mom was inside the hospital.) But is that why I’ve always loved the snow? Is there a genetic reason why I love the snow? A geographical one? Or just a generic one?
I loved the mountains, even before I ever saw them in person. They were the subject of many of my juvenile drawings and again in my adult art class experience with Beverly years later. Mountains with pine trees with a log cabin. I need to live near them.
Is all of this coincidence?
I’ve been on a health kick recently. Which has been building for quite some time. Trying to improve my overall feeling of wellness, increased energy, etc. They all say everything is harder to do after 50, so… Best get to it!
This phase of life has me seeing my first born graduating highschool and eventually moving out on her own. Of course I knew this day would come. I’ve tried teaching her all necessary skills and instilling what wisdom I have to impart. And yet I find myself wondering how we got here, quite so fast. It’s hard for me to imagine daily life without her right here, with me, in my house. At the same time I’m looking forward to having an adult child to experience life with. I’m excited for her and all the new things she will get to experience.
Then the second one will follow in a few years… And before I know it, they all will be out in the big world on their own. Whatever will I do with myself?
Oh, I have plenty of ideas.
But I’ll think about that tomorrow. Along with those other inevitable things I don’t want to think about right now.
So thanks to my Mom & Dad for giving me life. Thanks to G-d for bringing me to this season, and with HaShem’s help, I’ll get through it.
Today is the anniversary of my grandfather’s birthday, of blessed memory.
He loved pecans so his birthday treat usually contained pecans. Either in the form of a raisin pecan pie, his favorite, or a chocolate cake topped with pecans.
He loved John Wayne movies and I remember watching so many of them that I was surprised to learn there were some I hadn’t seen.
He collected firearms. All types and sorts. I remember watching him disassemble and clean them with fascination. He was so focused and serious. He enjoyed collecting them and target practice. He taught me to say “44 Magnum”, an early addition to my vocabulary.
He tinkered out in his man cave, otherwise known as the carport/garage. I helped him many a time smelt lead for making bullets. I still remember the smell that little crucible put off when it heated the lead.
I used to sit on the steps and just watch him do whatever he was doing. Often it involved WD-40. That smell still takes me back to those wooden steps, sitting with Grandpa.
He always kept a big bottle of Tabasco on his side table. He put it on everything he ate. Therefore, so must I! He also would let an aspirin dissolve in his mouth instead of swallowing it. So I had to as well. One time I saw him drinking apple cider vinegar and, you guessed it, I needed a glass for myself.
He and grandma loved their pets. Over the years there were many. Hinerich, Hinnie for short, the wiener dog was before my time but I heard so many stories of him I thought I knew him. There was Pierre the poodle, the Siamese cats: Sam Ying and Koko Ping, then the birds. They had cockatiels. Three of them. Susie and Toby and the third escapes me. I’m sure my mother or sister will remind me. These birds were so spoiled. I remember Toby sitting on my Grandpa’s fork as he ate. Toby would lean down and nibble a little bite on the way up from the plate! Crazy!
He was a purple heart veteran of WWII. He was opinionated and stubborn. He was my Beanpa, my mentor, my roll model. I loved him so. I remember only twice being in trouble with him. I was crushed. I never wanted to upset him again.
In my mind he was amazing. I know, of course, he was far from perfect. Grandma used to say “don’t speak I’ll of the dead” so I remember the good things and let love cover the other things.
I’m thankful for my experiences with the “Old Codger” (as he called himself). I can still here him call my grandma “Chicken”. He also taught my baby sister Emma to call him “Nicky Baby”. He thought this comic genius.
He held two of my babies before his passing. I’m thankful for the knowledge and wisdom he passed down to me. And for the lessons I learned from him, even the ones not to do. May he continue to rest in peace. CEW.
When I think of my Grandmother it’s always accompanied by roses. Beautiful red old fashioned trailing roses next to the house. Meticulously tooled leather roses on all of her things. Bouquets of fresh flowers with roses on her “bar”. In her middle name.
It’s been 16 years now since she entered her rest. She may be absent from this world, but she’s always there in the shadows of my mind. Some times she comes out of my mouth, with some little phrase. When I make potato salad. Sometimes it’s her picture I find while looking for something else. Other times it’s in the way Thing 1 looks when she holds her head a certain way. I see her in my Mom too.
Today I light a candle for Emma Rosetta Wadkins, of blessed memory.
See also: https://alaskaonmymind.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/one-decade/
Since I never made that follow up post about their visit, I thought I’d share a few highlights.
Over the past year I have had several new “first” experiences… Father’s Day. Dad’s first birthday after his death. My first birthday. The first Thanksgiving… so on and so forth. I thought to myself the other day, wow, a whole year has passed, the “last” first is coming up. But will it truly be the last first? I doubt it. I am sure my life has other new and exciting experiences to offer me, things that I would surely have shared with Dad, if he were still here to hear about them, or participate in them.
I am sure this wont be the last “first”… but it is a momentous one.
The one year anniversary of Dad’s death.
Remembering the man that we loved… and always will.
Photo credit: Tim Stringer
The wreath that the kids and I put together. Little Bit helped me mostly.
The little flag is a memo book so if anyone stops by, they can leave a few words if they would like. Dad’s picture is in the frame Little Bit painted for him. The pewter star is about Grandfathers.
The cabin door and wreath.
Watch the video tribute from Dad’s memorial last April: CNW Memorial
And for a good laugh, here’s Dad singing karaoke: Chuck Sings
Alaska on my mind... 