Wednesday, August 30, 2006

August 30th, 1914


My dad would have been 92 today. I pulled out the album that I put together for his funeral and scanned some of my favorite pictures of him. They brought back some wonderful memories. I try and think of him as the vibrant, active man that he was. Sometimes it is hard and all I can remember are his last years with us, a very old man.

I can tell you this, he lived his life to the fullest. There was definitely no moss growing under my dad. He was still very active until he reached the ripe old age of about 84. Unfortunately, he had a fall, a mild concussion and was never quite the same. Dementia hit hard the last year of his life. I am thankful, though, that he never suffered.

I miss the feisty ol' guy, sometimes very much. I was lucky in a way. He passed away a week before I moved to Tennessee. With the condition he was in--a coma--I would have felt enormous guilt by not being by him. The day before he passed, I sat with him and talked with him, mostly through prayer; but I felt he was at peace. That meant a great deal to me. My brother Johnny was with him when he left us. For that, I will be eternally grateful.

I did a really horrible job in copying these to Photoshop. They are not this gray, and I have no idea what I did!!!

16 comments:

Gretel said...

I think it's easy to forget our parents actually had a life before us. He looks as if he had a good sense of humour. :)

Regarding the photoshop...did your scanner automatically assign the scanning profile to grayscale? It might have detected that the images are black and white and taken the law into its own 'hands' (stuff does that, I find). Or you might just need to adjust the brighness/contrast in the main paint programme, although you've already done that by the look of it.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

In thoughts with you on this very special day...

Your Dad looked like someone who was very joyful, pleasant and happy.

Nice set of pictures...

kirsten said...

No matter how old our loved ones are when they pass it still hurts. Love to you today xx.

J C said...

Hey Rosa. I linked over here from Daisy's blog. I was just going to "check out a new-to-me blog, and ended up staying much too long. Really nice place you have here, and now I have to add it to my growing list of favs. Geesh...soon I will be spending my whole day enjoying blogs and will have not time for my own creating!

I have a friend who lives in Columbia, TN. Is that sort of near you? Take care, I'll be back!

Anonymous said...

I just love those photos. What a story they tell.

And, as a DC area resident, Im crazy about the one showing the Jefferson Memorial in the 50s :)

TJ said...

what a legacy...such nice pictures and memories of a life well lived!
where did you live before Nashville...I just thought you had always lived there.
:-D

paris parfait said...

Such a lovely tribute to your dad - what a guy! Love the photos. Thanks for sharing these special memories. xo

Janet said...

You are so lucky to have had such a wonderful dad. He looks as if he was full of life as a younger man. The photos are so cool. Love the one with the car, and the last one shows a loving father.

Vita said...

Your dad sounds a lot like mine. He always made the best of things. He fell when he was 86 (6/2/06), and never left hospital. Cat is on my shoulder and Cat's tail is in my face! Sound familiar? Anyway, great pictures of your dad. We just set a bunch of pictures up on the hutch.

Susie said...

Loved seeing the old photos and hearing your memories of your Dad. Sounds like he lived a very active life. I know you must miss him...

kansasrose said...

(((Hugs)))) to you Rosa.

Beth said...

Oh,,I miss my Dad too, Rosa. He's been dead for 19 years now. Don't you love this weather? FALL!!! YAY!!!

Farmgirl Cyn said...

So thankful you have good memories of your dad! Sweet photos! My dad passed away just this March...I miss him terribly.

Carole Burant said...

It's wonderful that your dad lived such a nice long life and that you have so many lovely memories of him:-) I love all the pictures too! My dad was only 48 when he passed away, the age i'm now and this is when I realize how very young he was. Happy Birthday to your dear dad up in heaven:-)

Shelley said...

How handsome he was. Such wonderful memories. I know he's celebrating with you.

Tea said...

Wonderful pictures of your Dad, Rosa. What a handsome man.
A wonderful dedication to him.

tea
xo

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