Monday, August 6, 2012

With Dad

At the Alive at Five summer concert series at Monument Square I looked to my left and saw this cutie checking out my camera. She wasn't too intent on keeping up with the lively conversation her dad was having. It got me thinking about special times with Dad. There were lots of secretive moments, away from the rest of the world. I'm sure we all have many from our childhood. Two come to mind today, both involving cars. The first was when we were living on Washington Avenue, at the foot of Canco Road. Heading home on darkened Canco, he'd let me slide over on his lap and help steer the old Chevy. It was a treat to flick on the high beam. The red light looked like a kidney bean, so I'd call it the 'high bean'. The other was getting to fly down Stevens Avenue on an errand, probably to the Quality Shop, in his maroon Jag. We would open all the windows and just let the wind rattle our brains. The Jaguar was so heavy and fast. I'd imagine, like an ocean liner at sea, going full knots, it would take us a long time to slow to a stop. Hey, what did a kid know. It was just time with Dad and that was golden, shinning like this child's hair in the afternoon sun.

32 comments:

  1. No, not all of us have such memories. Some of us have had a bad father, and can only dream about what such momemnts could be ..

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  2. Malyss- I thought of that when I completed that sentence. I even ventured to remove it. So sorry. You have me thinking again.

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  3. beau portrait de ce pere avec son enfant

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  4. I don't have memories like that either. :(
    But I wish I did! And I'm glad that other kids do as well.

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  5. Priceless times...I had a few...my dad had a Plymouth, though! :-)

    Cute picture. And BTW, we have no idle chatter in this house. Everything I say is of vital importance. Unless Lois says it isn't!

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  6. Such drama in her expression & her glasses & outfit! Perhaps you are one of the few people in this area who grew up here...? I enjoyed reading your memoires...

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  7. Nice to have such nice memories of your father. -- barbara

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  10. Slow start this morning, hence the deletions...This girl has such drama in her expression & in her clothes & she sure knows how to accessorize...I enjoyed reading your reminiscences. Perhaps you are one of the few people in this area who grew up here?

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  11. Saw a little boy on his dads shoulders last yr at an apple festival. It was really hot that day. The dad said out loud, "boy it's hot today". The son proceeded to spit on his dads head. The startled dad asked what he was doing and the son replied "you said you were hot so I'm cooling you off". Good thing the dad had a shaved head. A good dad, he just laughed it off.

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  12. Lovely image Birdman, what a little cutie, she looks as if she's practicing her 'bored princess' look!! I was one of the lucky ones, best Dad ever.

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  13. Your picture + memories = precious post.

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  14. Sitting on your dad's lap and steering the car must be every little boy's dream. Glad yours came true.

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  15. Those are great memories and that is a great photo! When I first opened your site and saw the photo it made me think of my dad. I don't personally remember sitting on his shoulders like this but, I remember my younger sisters doing it. I supposed I did too when I was their age, I just can't recall that.

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  16. You have not to be sorry !You're kind but No,don't be sorry ! you give me stuff to dream about, I should better thank you for that!.. :o)

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  17. She certainly is stylin' in those sunglasses!

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  18. You should write and illustrate a book...

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  19. I agree with Ciel. This is a great shot. What type of lens do you use Birdman?

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  20. "Let the wind rattle our brains." I love that Bird, also the memory of sitting in my Granddaddy's lap getting to steer. THey'd throw Bid Daddy in the slammer for letting me do that nowadays!
    V

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  21. Besides having interesting shots, I love your commentary. Nice job.

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  22. Dotted shades and a dotted dress...very well coordinated for this young lass. I imagine that she, too, will have Dad stories to tell when she grows up!

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  23. She's already stylin'... lol!

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  24. Your Dad must have had interesting cars if he was driving around in a Jaguar. Have you continued this family tradition?

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  25. I like your photo today, Birdman. Read your comments on St. Louis Bob's blog tonight. You had some big moments at Fenway . . . including that horrible night Tony C got hit. My father didn't like sports, so my first Fenway visit was when I was in college. My earliest Sox memories are listening on a scratchy crystal radio to broadcasts from distant places like Baltimore.

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  26. Such a lovely photo! Great memories...


    If you like it, follow my new up and coming blog on Bloglovin'. Let me know in the comments, so that I can follow you back ;)

    LA By Diana Live Magazine

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  27. Here's another vote for that photo--and "driving" from the old man's lap. I wonder if it's only in small towns where you can get away with that.

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  28. As per usual, the cats, kid and dinner are amazing examples of your sense of composition!

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