~Happy Father's Day!~ :-)

Fathers Day today. And if you had a great one like I

did you didn't need this special day to let him know,

I told mine every chance I got that he was THE best

dad any girl could have. My dad died in 1989.. 20 years

ago already, doesn't seem that long, but then when you

lose someone as close to you as a parent or child..the

amount of time no matter how long, it seems like only

yesterday they were here.
2 special people.. my parents.. Ralph & Violet.. :-)
A favorite spot, on their back porch.. I have that table in my kitchen.
dad cheated at solitare ! Shhhh :-) Mom couldnt figure out how he
always beat it :-) I never told :-)

I went through my photos to pick the ones I liked the

best of him, and of course, it was hard to pick, but I

chose the ones that reminded me most of him and who

and what he was.. He had a smile, that you just couldn't

help smile back.. He had a gold tooth, that made his

even more special.. :-) He was a very special man.. One

of a kind..When he got dentures he even had that gold

one put in it.. :-)
One of his favorite things to do was fish.. he taught me :-)

His name was Ralph Elwin, he was born January 28, 1909,

died April 26, 1989, he was a direct decendant to

Samuel Woodworth, his great grandfather, that wrote

the song "The Old Oaken Bucket". In fact there is a

Woodworth family reunion going on now up in New York.

Next year it may be here in Grand Rapids where many

of my grandfathers family are.. Be nice to go to one.

There is also a website about this song and Samuel...:-)
The very top photo look at my dads hands. His fingers

had arthritis and the tips were bent, he worked till the

day he went into hospital to fight the cancer that had

already gone past repair.. Pancreatic, that kills you in

only months.. which it did him. I didn't make it home

in time, I was on my way as fast as I could, when I

called from Milwaukee, he was already gone.. Was the

worst trip I ever made in my life, from Buffalo back

home...

My dad was a mechanic, all his life, he tried the mine,

got hurt and refused to go back, I was glad! He had

his own garage and no helpers.. his quote "If a job

is done wrong, I don't want to take blame for some

one elses work, I do my own." and he loved it... My

parents went out to my Uncle Stanley and Aunt Edna's

was Christmas time, and while we kids played, my

cousin Larry and I, the adults were making taffy. You

had to pull it between two people or by your self, my

dad had a huge piece of WHITE taffy, he was pulling

and stretching it, looked down and the taffy had turned

almost black.. a dark grey ! He looked at his hands.. :-)
they were SNOW WHITE.. being a mechanic the oil and

grease even though he constantly washed his hands it

was embedded into the skin and nails :-) The taffy being

very oily, drew all of that stuff OUT and changed the

color of the taffy.. Needless to say, my dad was pleased,

his hands hadnt been THAT white and clean in ages, but

he had one of the biggest chunks of taffy ! NO ONE was

gonna eat that ! :-)

Ive written and still could write lots of stories about my

dad, who and what he was, and I probly will ! :-) He taught

me well if he hadnt I don't think this life I have now, I

could handle if it wasn't for him. My sons are dads, I hope

they are even half the dad their grandfather was.. and

they or anyone would be great.. :-) I still miss my dad....

I have a old bottle of OLD SPICE, that was his, I smell

it once in a while, its here on my desk.. That smell brings

him back just like the photos.. I was very blessed that

he and my mom picked me to raise... :-) They adopted me

when I was 10 months old.. :-)

Well, I have to stop, you know just writing a few words

about my dad will bring a tear to my eyes.. and this

GORGEOUS WEEBLE cant see what shes typin.. plus I

didn't eat much yesterday and I'm a tad hungry, but

only something light. Happy Fathers Day... :-)

Y'all have a good one now, Y"hear? love ya and thanks..

Always, Lois ****

"God Bless You", is my prayer today,

I'm honored to call you Friend,

I pray the Lord will keep you safe,

Until I write again....