Connecting Dad

Hey I have been away for a few days, ok a week and during that time away I was able to spend some time with my dad. It was great to get away and even better to spend time with my dad. As it worked out we got a day and a half alone together (along with more time with others around). We caught up on a lot of stories, played some cards, ate a lot of my mom’s pre-arranged meals. One of the things that I didn’t know was as a boy of 11 or 12 he used to spend time with his maternal Grandfather helping work on the railroad during the summer. This wasn’t a paid thing, just a hang out with his uncle and grand dad. My dad described his grandfather as a huge guy of seven feet tall and quite a scrapper. He said that with a name like “Pearl Longberry” he had to be. He said that he witnessed Pearl carrying two railroad ties on one shoulder for almost a quarter of a mile. I really think that it is important for people to know who they are, where they came from. It gives us a sense of connectedness with history, with family with a certain reality. I have been blessed to have parents that are still together (53 years) and still alive. I know that I haven’t been the greatest kid a keeping the relationship up and yet I have had so much more than many. We have lost almost all sense of connectedness and roots in our day and age. We need to eat together, laugh together, cry together, sit quietly, share stories, hunt, play, be. Get off of the jet liner and begin to walk a little in life. Invite someone over, turn off the TV, put down the book and live your life together!

Thanks Dad!