I am thinking of my Dad today...
Dad.... and me...
Last year I finally made my first truly altered book ~
I had wanted to make a "traditional" altered book, for many years!
Inside is a collection of some VERY precious photos of dad, when he was very young.
In a window created in the front cover, I applied a transparency of pictures that had been turned into a mosaic by my local Walgreen's photo department. This is a feature offered whenever I develop pictures there, but I never opted to buy the montage. THIS time I did and I'm THRILLED with the results. I copied the original onto transparency and then glued it to some
Hambly - CLEARLY HEAVY transparency to create a hard window, framed by the large bookplate, which secures the entire window on the cover of the book.
Although, it feels a long way from completion, I have REALLY enjoyed having a place to
preserve special moments, thoughts and memorabilia....
There's my DARLING mom and cutie pie brothers.... {back when they WERE cutie pies!}
Being a total ham comes easily to members of my family. This picture of Dad, serenading me, is one of my VERY favorites! I also LOVE that slice of 1960's Americana - Dad, living the American dream, posing with his brood in front of the "first" family home,
back in the Wonder Years...
My love of all things horse, comes directly from my Pop. The base of this altered book was an actual horse racing guide, given to him by his favorite secretary. I haven't really begun to embellish the HORSE part of this book, but in this section, I had removed some key illustrations and photos from other sections that were covered with glue. {Thankfully, I have ANOTHER copy of this book - it was actually a bit distracting, as I made my plan, what to use and what to sacrifice!}
My advice here: either DON'T use a book that has sentimental subject, or make sure you use it in it's best light!
I'm feeling pretty good about the latter...
but it was touch and go for a while!
I ABSOLUTELY love these pictures of "the dad"....
Our shared love of the equine is a treasure!
I said we were "hams"... AND we survived 80's fashion!
Husband and I eloped to Lake Tahoe to get married. It was small, but PERFECT for us.
The following Spring, my folks threw us a wedding reception, anyway. My, not so secret, hope for my children is that when the time comes for them,
THE MARRIAGE will matter much more than the party!
My Dad and Brothers looked so handsome at my brother Gary's {pictured in the middle} wedding ....
Here's a slightly clearer shot, just so you can really see what I mean...
{What? A girl can brag on her big bros & Dad!}
First time I left home was ...a challenge for Dad and Me. Having my very own street
made it a little easier, though... hee hee
I loved being able to showcase these photos of my brothers as lil' guys,
and Dad holding his lil' grandsons...
{That's my nephew on the left and my boy on the right..., sleeping!}
My FAVORITE, favorite, favorite picture of my Dad in the hospital after I gave birth to my girl...
Feast your eyes on my first transition to DIGITAL photography {right}... ACK!
I was SO impressed, because it saved the pictures DIRECT to floppy disk..... {Oh, dear...}
Now, back to truly VINTAGE {holy CRACKERS - I'm old!} photography, this great black and white of us, in some kind of a beach hut, in Florida. Mom reminds me I was petrified of the sand, so I would only stand on dad.... Do I remember this? Or is it the memory of mom telling the story.... I hope it's both. I know I remember loving this man with every part of my heart. Especially when I was young enough to see only his strengths, humor and unconditional love.
Today would have been his 81st birthday, but he left us, suddenly, just a few days after we celebrated his 72nd birthday.
I've spent the better part of this last 9 years, broken-hearted and a little cheated.
But there is truly something AMAZING about presiding over memorabilia, pictures and artifacts.
There is something TRULY therapeutic about scrapping
memories of a loved one, who is no longer with us. It's NOT EASY... but it's empowering.
For me, it truly eased some of the pain, and helped reconnect me to parts of my father,
that I may have never experienced.
In this, fitting, picture of Dad in college, BEFORE he knew my mom, WAY before his kids roamed the earth....
he wrote this tiny note on the back:
I wonder why he did that? I wonder whom it was meant for. A college sweetie, I suspect?
I won't really know for sure, but I like to think, he wrote it for all of us.
I remember him... I love him.
I always will....
Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.
If you are blessed to have your dad in your life - I hope you love him to the very best of your ability. I hope you tell him you love him every chance you get. I hope you are not a member of "this club", but if you are, I hope time quickly brings you the BEST memories, most often. And if you think your not ready, then don't rush to scrap your loss. But when the time begins to feel right - just DO it. You'll cry {A LOT!}, but you'll be okay.
And THEN, you'll have a new piece, of that life and those memories, to treasure.
I hope so.
