Saturday, June 18, 2011

Remembering My Dad

Grandma J's father died in his early 50's.  He was a smart but quiet man.  He was funny when you least expected it.  He loved his family.

Like so many fathers, he took most of the pictures that end up on the family albums, so there are few of him to enjoy.  



Grandma J has his Army picture.....somewhere.  But, she wants to share this worn and tattered one with you, because this is how she remembers him the most.  Relaxing at the beach. The best memories ever.



click on photo to enlarge

This particular one was taken at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire in the early fifties.   When they still lived in Rhode Island, Grandma J's family spent their  vacations there every summer.  Grandma J's uncle owned several bungalow cottages and let them have one for a couple of weeks every year.  She remembers all the fun times with her cousins on the boardwalk at night.

Grandma J loves the old ice truck in the background, and her dad's Sperry Topsiders with his cigarettes tucked inside. 

Is it any wonder Grandma J's father moved his family to a beach side community when they moved to CA?    

xoxo Grandma J

14 comments:

joanne said...

love the old photo...brings back some great memories of the beach when I was little. He was a very handsome man...such a hard loss so young. Remembering all our dad's today..;j

abb said...

Lovely photo and memories. Wish he could have had more time with you.

Unknown said...

What sweet memories of your Daddy. He was very handsome. It is no wonder you are a beach girl : )

Busy Bee Suz said...

Photos like that are just so priceless...they can conjure up so many memories. I can believe your Dad was funny...but quiet?? really? I love that your Dad was the family photographer too; that is super sweet. He cared enough to take photos.......

My g'pa had an ice business in CONN back in the day and I can honestly say there still has not been a quiet person born into this family.

Anonymous said...

You father looks like a fun guy. No chest waxing for him!

Colin

Connie said...

Nice picture and nice memories to go along with it, Grandma J. Made me smile. :)

M said...

Great photo! I would love to live by the beach again.

My dad died at 53...so I never knew him as a teen or adult. Father's Day is always sad.

Pumpkin Delight (Kimberly) said...

What a great picture! (Colin's comment made me laugh) Looks like those beach trips were a lot of fun. What great memories. I love our East Coast connection. I went to college in NH and spent some fun times at Hampton Beach.

Mark said...

Love it! Thanks. m.

Bluebird49 said...

My daddy died when I was 21--he was 66. I don't think I ever remember him as being "young"--but I know he loved me very much and I loved him...and that's all that counts!

I wish I had more picutres of him--he was always in the background somewhere--and I don't think we ever had a camera!

Karen Deborah said...

What sweet memories! MY grandparents owned a beach cottage near the Esplanade in Capitola. Unfortunately they did not KEEP it! We also went down there ever summer during our childhoods and got burnt to a crisp every year. I'm sorry you didn't have more years, and I am glad your memories are good.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

This is precious. Precious.

Daryl said...

What wonderful memories xo

HalfAsstic.com said...

Nostalgia like this is priceless. So are your memories, honey.
I bought John a pair of Sperry topsiders and they are his favorites for much the same reason. Nostalgia.