Happy Birthday. Dad!

 

Below is my dad's high school graduation photo. He was an honor grad and holder of class medals in English and debate. The year was 1925. He was seventeen. My dad was a mill town boy with high ambitions beyond the mountains of western Maryland but he had the security of a well-paying full-time job waiting for him after graduation in the midst of the Roaring Twenties. That job won out and he never pursued the college degree he wanted. Nevertheless he was successful, building on his strong Christian faith, steady employment, solid marriage, and remarkable work ethic.

1925

When I look at this picture I am reminded that he only had four "good" years before the Great Depression and World War II brought him and the country he loved into sixteen years of hard times. What I don't see are his weakened legs and slight limp caused by polio when he was a young boy. Through it all he survived as a member of the "Greatest Generation" and saw his nation prosper.

One hundred and sixteen years have passed since his birth on this day in 1907. That's a long time and one indication of why my value programming is different from that of most people my age. In short, I was raised by parents from the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age while the majority of my classmates, friends, and many colleagues had parents come of age in the 1930's and early '40's. The often vast difference in attitudes, opinions and beliefs borne out of such a circumstance brings both opportunity and challenge in the real world for those born somewhat "out of synch" with their peers.

My children never knew my dad - he's been gone for over forty years - but I think they know him well. I've done my best to teach them who he was and honor him by carrying on his many traditions. How fortunate I was to have him as a beacon in my life. He was a great and careful teacher and, though we had our differences, a constant and trusted friend. Most of all he was my loving dad. I thank him every day,  will love him forever, and look forward to seeing him again.

4th Grade class photo, 1917-18

Celebrating My Dad

 

Below is a photo of my dad at seventeen, a high school honor graduate and holder of his class medals in English and debate. The year was 1925. He was a mill town boy with high ambitions and the offer of a good-paying full-time job straight out of high school and into the midst of the Roaring Twenties. By taking that job, he never got the college degree he wanted but he was successful, building on his strong faith, a solid marriage, and a remarkable work ethic.

It has been 114 years since the birth of my father on this day in 1907. He was almost 40 when I arrived. And I was well into my 30's when my children arrived.  I often recall what it was like being raised by parents value programmed by the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age while most of my classmates, friends, and colleagues had parents come of age during the last years of the Great Depression and World War II. Today I ponder what my children think of their Boomer dad and his many stories of growing up in the 1950's and 1960's.

They never met my dad - he's been gone for over 40 years - but I think they know him well. I've done my best to teach them who he was and honor him by carrying on his many traditions along with those established by their mother and L. How fortunate I was to have him as a beacon in my life. He was a great and careful teacher and counselor, and though we had our differences, a constant and trusted friend. Most of all he was my loving dad. I thank him every day and will love him forever. 

Happy birthday, Dad! 

A Birthday For Dad

This is my dad at seventeen, a high school honor graduate and holder of his class medals in English and debate. The year was 1925. He was a mill town boy with high ambitions tempered by the security of a good-paying full-time job straight out of high school and into the midst of the Roaring Twenties. He never got the college degree he wanted but he was successful, building on his strong faith, a solid marriage, and a remarkable work ethic.

When I look at this picture I am reminded that he only had four "good" years before the Great Depression and World War II brought him and the country he loved into sixteen years of hard times. Through it all he survived as a member of the "Greatest Generation" and saw his nation prosper.

One hundred and twelve years have passed since the birth of my father on this day in 1907. That's a long time and one indication of why my value programming is different from that of most people my age. In short, I was raised by parents from the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age while the majority of my classmates, friends, and colleagues had parents come of age in the 1930's and early '40's. The often vast difference in attitudes, opinions and beliefs borne out of such a circumstance bring both opportunity and challenge in the real world for those born somewhat "out of synch" with their peers. 

My children never knew my dad - he's been gone almost forty years - but I think they know him well. I've done my best to teach them who he was and honor him by carrying on his many traditions. How fortunate I was to have him as a beacon in my life. He was a great and careful teacher and, though we had our differences, a constant and trusted friend. Most of all he was my loving dad. I thank him every day and will love him forever.