My Dad

This is how I remember my dad. I remember fishing with him, wading in the water, hooking the worms, and calmly waiting. I loved fishing with my dad, maybe partly because my sisters didn't. I think Arlene didn't like the worms and I'm not sure why Luan didn't like going. Perhaps she was just old enough to want to do "girl" things, and this wasn't. Maybe I was just young enough that I didn't care about those things. But I did like being there with my dad. This picture shows Corky, Taylor, Simona and Dante fishing with Grandpa. When my kids were little, Grandpa would load up the fishing gear and head down the canyon--there was place where you could fish without a license and just pay by the pound. We did a lot of fishing there. Later that place closed, but Grandpa took us to the fish hatchery--I believe this picture was taken there. I have a lot of "Grandpa fishing" with my kids. Taylor and Simona remember fishing with him, but I don't think Dante does. I'm not sure Jake ever got to go, so that's not one of his memories, but it's something I certainly remember.

I remember Dad had a friend who would come fishing with us once or twice in the summer, and he'd bring his two grandsons. I went with them a couple of years, but one year I decided against it. I think that was year I decided I needed to do "girl" things. I wished all day long I had gone. I've always been sorry I didn't go; I missed an opportunity to be with my dad.

I remember going to Alturas Lake in the summer and fishing. I can feel the water lapping around my legs now. We had to stand quietly, or we'd scare the fish. I loved Alturas Lake and have such great memories of that place. There were a couple of different spots on the lake where Dad liked to fish. When too many other fishermen came, we would move. I loved catching a fish; I even loved cleaning the fish. Yeah, yeah, that's kind of gross, but I did. Again, maybe it was because my sisters didn't like to clean them. I always did want to be a little different than everyone else.

I remember getting up very early on opening day of fishing season. It was probably 3 or 4 o'clock--a.m. I remember driving, snacking, sleeping in the car, just waiting for the right spot. I never could figure out how Dad knew where that spot was, but he always did. Stopping under a viaduct didn't seem like the right place to me, but he knew where the fish were. Of course, he always had a can of corn at his disposal, ready for chumming (which I found out later was illegal). But hey, it attracted the fish. Wasn't that what it was all about?

On the way home (or depending on the time of day, it could have been on the way there), we would stop, I think in Shoshone, for a black raspberry malt. Maybe that's why I went? I still choose black raspberry malts; not sure if they're even my favorite, but they remind me of my dad.

After I was married, Corky and I went fishing with Dad (we even got a malt). I remember we stood in the stream on one side of a fence, clearly posted "No Trespassing." Dad cast his line over the fence. He figured we weren't trespassing as long as we stayed standing on the right side. Corky groaned and rolled his eyes, but he chuckles about it now. That was my dad.

This is Dad's 8th grade graduation picture. He is in the front row. Can you spot him? What a cute boy!

And here's my sweet dad at my wedding. We were standing outside the temple, waiting for our turn for pictures. Isn't he cute? I have to say I have a wonderful dad. I love him. He has always been good to me. Certainly I can think of times when I was mad at him, but generally that was because of me, not him! I know this was a very happy day--I think for Dad as well as for me. Before I was married, I'd meet my dad in Logan and we'd go through a temple session together. We'd get inside and Dad would always say, "Do you have a spare groom hanging around?" I think he was worried that my prince charming would never show up. Luckily for all of us, he did.

Happy Haunting

Check out these kidlets. Taylor was the Joker, of course. Dante was a mummy (made by Corky), Jake was the Skeleton--check out his lower jaw--Zumiez for $6. Simona was Sally from Nightmare before Christmas. Her friend, Erin was Alice from Twilight. We had some neighbor kids go with us--they are in the group shot. Our friends Isaac, Katrina and Dominic Azevedo. Oh, and that's Corky's Frankie on the door (next to Taylor).

A lonesome Halloween photo. . .

Here is my thrilled little boy showing off his costume--well most of it. He is missing his bandana which had the lower half of his skeleton head. It was so cool--it even had gold teeth. We found it at Zumiez in the mall--$6. What a deal. Of course I knew he wouldn't keep it on for the whole evening, but that's okay. I painted these bones on black sweats--that way the kids stay warm, and I was pretty happy with how they turned out. This picture doesn't show the arms bones very well. But, one of these days I'll get more Halloween pics and post. You'll love Dante as a mummy. Corky did a great job with that one.

I promise I'll get more pictures posted. I just never think about writing when I'm at home, and that's where the pictures are! I'll get better at this. I promise!

Thanksgiving Addendum

Okay, my "bummer" about watching football must be taken as sarcastic. I hope that's completely understood. I did not miss it. But I know Grandpa likes to watch and Corky will watch with him, but generally I don't. I did, however, watch parts of the Utah-BYU game and cheered in all the appropriate places. And of course, we were wearing RED and screamed and yelled at the end of the victorious game. But that's another story.

And--I failed to mention another thing. I started telling about the belt on our car, or in our car--whatever. A couple of winters ago, it slipped every time it got wet outside. Nasty deal. Gratefully I was pretty close to home and not trying to get home from work in the middle of the night. So, last week we replaced the tensioner and the idler pulley--they work with the belt. But we had to put on a belt that had once been in our car, but not for a long time. So we'd just kept it in the back, just in case. Well, when all these other things were replaced, we used that belt because I neglected to purchase a new one. It squeeked and squeeled. So Wally, my handy-dandy mechanic neighbor, who I pay in cash but tip in pies, said we should get a new one. Didn't happen before we left for Idaho. I had the newly-purchased belt in the car awaiting its proper place, but alas, was not in its proper place. We got home and Corky decided to get gas and wash the car since it was filthy. He went through the car wash, and guess what--belt slipped off. I called Wally and told him I'd been praying for that belt, but here we were, safe and sound at home and ready for his services--once again. Can I say how grateful I am for a guy who knows how to fix my car? Corky and I are totally happy to know Wally. Sounds like that's the only reason we like him--don't get that idea. He's a great neighbor. And he likes my pies.

So, I am thankful that the belt stayed in its place while we were travelling and that we didn't have to be towed someplace and pay tons to have it replaced (even though we had a replacement belt--one guy wanted to charge me $50 just to put it on). Perhaps the belt slipped off because Corky went through the car wash on Sunday evening? I don't know about that. But I am grateful that it happened when it did (not counting the trip), but because Corky was there to help. I hate dealing with the car but I usually have to, since I'm the one home and the one driving it. These things always happen when Corky's at work, so this time, he totally took care of it for me. Thanks Corky. Thanks Wally. Thanks especially to One who was looking out for us on our trip. I am truly grateful for that.

Oh, P.S. We had a great fireworks display at Grandma's house. For those of you who remember Thanksgiving there, I hope you remember the fireworks. On Friday evening, there is a huge display. It's great because we just go outside, set up the lawn chairs on Grandma's patio, bundle up, turn up the music and watch. I was at the store earlier that day and heard someone ask another person if they were "going to the fireworks." Made me do a double take because we don't have to "go." We are already there. Thanks for the fireworks Grandma!