Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Memories: Two Times A Year! My parents had been married for 20 years before I came into the world. During that time, my father had a reputation for enjoying gambling and drinking. Like me, my dad is a cheerful drinker who often insists on buying rounds for everyone.
In 1944, I became a part of the family on a chilly December day. Dad stopped drinking immediately (maybe I scared him?), and I never saw him take a sip again, except on Christmas Eve and July 4th.
I have fond memories of Christmas Eve when my family and I would visit Ralph’s house, who was my dad’s boss. The store managers would also attend the celebration. We usually arrived around 6:00 pm and were greeted by a delicious feast prepared by Ralph.
At approximately 8:00 pm, my mother and I would depart. Meanwhile, my father would remain in the adjacent room, amusing the gathering by recounting tales of events that never occurred. Afterward, we drove back home, which was only a short distance of around two miles.
The three of us!
My dad never drove drunk, so around 10:00 pm, the phone would ring, and my mom would say, “Be good; I’ll be right back!” She went to Ralph’s to pick up my dad. We were always happy, but he knew his limits.
I have fond memories of those Christmas Eve celebrations, and to this day, I can easily recall the managers and their wives who made those times so special. The Christmas Eve tradition war carried on from the time I could remember until I was eighteen and had left home to go to school.
Dad has been gone 53 years, and I miss him daily as he was my mentor, a rock-solid husband, and provider, lovely to everyone, generous to a fault, and just plain smart!
I want to be half the man my father was!
I am all set for the day ahead. Colleen, Mary, and I plan to visit the nursery, go to the Boot Barn fir some serious shopping, grab a burger from In-N-Out, and quickly stop at the pharmacy before heading home for some fun in the garden and a refreshing swim in the pool. Our lovely daughters, Colleen and Robin, are a joy to be with. They share our perspective and love to live life to the fullest.
My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo. I had to put my foot down.
One of the most incredible things about daughters is how they adored you when they were little; how they rushed into your arms with electric delight and demanded that you watch everything they do and listen to everything they say.”
It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping. That place better be close to a bank!
I over-achieved; I took Colleen, Mary, and Robin shopping.
My wife just found out I replaced our bed with a trampoline. She hit the ceiling!
At 10:00 am, we left the house to go to the UPS Store for an Amazon return. Then, we went to the Boot Barn where Colleen tried to buy white cowgirl boots, and Mary got me a new cowboy shirt. However, before we left, Colleen tried on the boots and realized they were a mismatched pair, with one boot in a wider size and the other in a narrow size. Therefore, we went to Tustin Market Place and visited another Boot Barn, where Colleen could find and buy the right pair of boots.
We were feeling hungry and decided to stop at In-N-Out.
We did now know that she had her own spot!!
After entering, we found a table and sat down next to a fascinating individual. Although he initially appeared to be an ordinary person, we soon discovered that he worked for either the FBI or the CIA, his spouse was studying in medical school, and he possessed a wealth of knowledge from his travels and education.
Afterward, we headed to OC Farm Supply and picked up some plants to fill the garden’s empty spaces. Once we got home, we took a dip in the pool, which was a pleasant 87 degrees!
Time for a swim!
The heat was unbearable, prompting the ladies to request that I relocate our umbrella to the pool’s edge for shade.
We had a few drops of rain which prompted me to say, “What do you call a parrot with an umbrella? Polly unsaturated.”
Colleen enjoyed the pool today!
We dressed after our swim and walked through the garden, enjoying the fruits of our labor. Everything ought to be great for the party as we will have corn, tomatoes, watermelon, and much much more.
Mr. Sunflower pointed toward the sun and said, “Please don’t leave!”
Our scarlet sunflowers are smiling at everything.
We discovered a newly born baby watermelon in the nursery and another melon on the verge of reaching adolescence.
One more baby watermelon is on the way!
My tomato plants are thriving, and I anticipate using them to make a delicious tomato pie. The fruits are ripening rapidly, with their color deepening each day.
End of the season, and they are magnificent.
Would anyone like some stuffed peppers? We need to prepare them before our trip. We learned today that Irene will stay at our home for two weeks, and Robin will join her. By the time we return, Scout will be so spoiled that he will be challenging to live with!
They get bigger every day!
Valencia Gardens features a magnificent docent who offers complimentary tours at any time of day. They are truly remarkable and worth experiencing.
Welcome to Valencia Gardens.
The sun is setting, signaling the time to head indoors. Mary reaches for the Moon but misses it. Instead, she is rewarded with a bright red tomato as a consolation prize.
Reaching for the Moon.
At around 7:00 pm, we had dinner and planned to watch Suits, but unfortunately, we fell asleep immediately.
