As many of you know, because I've mentioned it here, my father would turn 100 years old tomorrow, if he had lived long enough. I'm having some friends and relatives over to commemorate the occasion - we'll share memories, and then go to the graveyard to place a bouquet of yellow roses on his grave - these were his favorite flowers. I put together a book of photos to pass around so each can remember him more vividly at various stages of his life. One of my favorite pictures of my dad is not a photo, but a sketch my mom made of him in 1941 - I was toddler of 3 years old at the time; they had been married for 5 years. Here's the sketch - pretty good, don't you think?



Following the graveside observance, we'll all go to a local Italian restaurant and savor some fine Italian cooking - some of my dad's favorite foods.

Being somewhat overcome by the nostalgia of this event today, I drove up to the house that was my parents' home in their retirement years. Today it is unoccupied and up for sale. I had not seen it in 20 years, but it looked much the same. It's located on the North slope of Phoenix's landmark Camelback Mountain. I took some pictures to share with you. Here's the North face of the home overlooking Paradise Valley:



And this is the view from that spot, looking Northeast; it's as spectacular now as it was then:



And finally, a small cactus on the property caught my eye. I think that was no accident...



Love is forever, my friends. It's what's left when everything else is gone. Treasure the moments you have with your loved ones, because someday all you will have is memories of the good times.

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Thanks for sharing this. This will be one of the events you will remember for the rest of your life. That is a very good drawing and some real pretty pics you took.


snakeman

Thanks very much for sharing this. In this day of instant gratification it is good to find someone who still remembers and strives to keep memories alive.

Frank

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sona si latine loqueris .

I was really impressed by your post.

I, too, had a family gathering for my father's 100th birthday in March. I thought it was a milestone worth celebrating whether alive or dead.

It is good to know other folks have similar sentiments.

It is said that a man dies twice. The first time a physical death, the second time, when he is forgotten.

Memories, family stories and such linger and keep departed loved ones in touch.

You will continue to see reminders such as the cactus... I do.

Have a wonderful time at your gathering.

Very nice post! Having grown up in So. AZ & Sonora ( I was punching cows when you were born!) and pictures of God's Country are always welcome on my screen. Camelback was way out in the boonies then, nobody would ever want to live way out there! Those mouintains in the far distance are the Superstitions, right? I was always going to get a couple of buddies and go find the Lost Dutchman Gold mine in them thar hills, but somehow never got around to it. Old timers in Apache Junction told us that we would never come out if we went in there, Later, after the war, I spent many a week end roaming those mountains on horseback and a suplus WW2 Jeep. Good times long gone. Ed #15

The mountains in the distance are the "Four Peaks." The Superstitions would be in the opposite direction, not viewable from this vantage point. One would have to be on the other side of Camelback to see them. There used to be a lot of crazies going prospecting in the Superstitions, looking for the Lost Dutchman mine; most of them armed. A lot of unsolved murders occurred there during the '30s, '40s and '50s.

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Thanks for sharing.............too often we don't bother to take time for reflection.

Thanks Paladin for the memories. My Dad would have been 100 this May 12th. He passed early at age 58 in 1968. Mom lived to age 87, never remarried either.

Your Dad was a handsome man. Your Mom very talented.

Thanks for sharing.

Nice pics. I lived in Yuma, Arizona for 3 1/2 years. I loved it.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Beautiful memories and pictures. Maybe it's just me, but looking at that sketch of your Dad reminded me of Clark Gable.

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Misty

Your mother was quite an artist. She drew that the year I was born.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Misty, I think that's why my mom married him! Here's an actual photo of my dad, taken in 1955 when he was 45 years old. It was a formal portrait for his Masonic lodge. He was master of the lodge that year.

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Thanks for the story and pictures. Very touching. My Dad has been gone eight years now. The first year or so was a very confused time. Now, sometimes it is almost like he is still here - except I do not "see" him. Maybe that makes no sense. Anyway, thanks again for sharing your pictures of your Dad. That IS a wonderful sketch.

That's not all that unusual. I've always felt my dad was still with me, even when he was gone. I sense that he was looking out for me as a guardian angel, particularly in the 21 years I looked after my mother until she passed on a couple of years ago at the age of 95. Now that she's joined him in the afterlife, his visits via dreams are not as frequent, but I know he's still around in spirit. The heart-shaped cactus kinda verified that for me...

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -