Hello Dad,

Mom passed Tuesday Jan 22, 2019 (as you now know) and we are pleased you are both together once again. Perhaps you are playing Gin Rummy on a Motor Home trip. Say "Hi" to Aunty Phil and Uncle Lou for all of us please. We celebrated Mom and Uncle Lou's Lives with many special friends and family members last weekend. There were so many wonderful stories.

Remembering Grandpa

These may have evolved elsewhere, or perhaps passed to me from Darryl.  But, their roots were solidly with Don.

"Shoot the grease over here" - pass the butter.

"You boys set up in your fartsacks?" - basically, how are we doing in our sleeping bags while camping or an overnight on Melendy.

Oh, yeah, solid Don material. 

The Folger family met the Thom family before I can remember - probably 1955?  The three Thom boys and the four Folger girls shared family get togethers, vacations at Ten-mile and the east coast, because of the parental friendship. The impression that "Mr Thom" left on me was of a happy, fun-loving, kind man who was easy to be around.  As a child, I remember how he looked lovingly at Jocelyn, and called her "Dolly".  I could tell by the way he looked at each of his sons,that he was so proud of them. Don's devotion to his family was "repaid" in the last years as Jocelyn, Doug, David, Darryl and their wives cared for him during his illness.  He was truly a wonderful man, blessed with family and friends who easily saw the goodness in him. 

Alzheimers is an odd disease leaving some functions intact, eliminating others, and some come and go randomly.  Dad's ability to speak was generally gone, but every once in awhile he would blurt out a completely coherent sentence in unmistakeable Don-speak here are a few:

About a year ago, and three months before his famous fence climbing incident we were walking around the Silverado gardens and we came to the end of a walkway where there was a 6' iron fence.  Dad grabed the fence post and turned to me and said "You know I could get over this if I wanted to!"

We were out in the car headed for our typical lunch of a burger and a chocolate shake.  There was a car ahead of us that didn't move when the light turned green. Dad waited about 2 seconds and then blurted out "Come on - move it lady!"  And, it was a woman at the wheel.

Finally, I arrived at the Dr's office ahead of Dad the Thursday before he died. He was being delivered by the Silverado staff for a follow up visit.  I saw him coming so I stood up and opened the door for him.  When he saw me he broke into a grin, and said flawlessly "WHAT in the hell are you doing here?"

 

If you ever had the pleasure of learning how to handle, sort and stack a pile of lumber with Dad it was quite amazing.  Dad on one end of a unit of long 2x4's and me on the other.

Dad would usually take the lead. Picking up the end of a 2x4 and sliding toward me just a couple of inches so it would be easy for me to pick it up with one hand. While I was grabing my end Dad would lift his end to his eye and sight down the length for straightness.  Then with two hands each we'd roll (always in the same direction) the 2x4 to quickly see if all the faces and edges were in good shape. Then based on what we determined it would either be set aside or restacked on another pile.  It was a 4-handed ballet of constant smooth motion and subtle footwork.  We'd handle, inspect and restack 2x4's at the rate of one every 5 seconds, which meant you moved nearly 2 tons lumber in 15 minutes.

If was fast, efficient, safe, and was done with a minimum exertion.  Work was often done in a noisy environment (saws or vehicles running) so out of necessity there was no verbal communication - all decisions were made with a quik shake or nod of the head. Sorting left or right was a just a tilt of head in one direction or another. 

I've never seen anyone who could do it faster than Dad.  It was so fast it was FUN. 

Early in Dad's career he was managing construction crews building track homes for Bruce Bauer.  He was hiring a lot of laborers as carpenters.  On their first day of work Dad would hand the new-hire TWO new hammers.  The new fellow would look at the two hammers, and then at Dad with a puzzled look.

Then Dad would look stright at the new fellow and say:  "I want you to take that hammer home, and leave this hammer here at work.  And, I don't want to ever hear you say 'I took my hammer home to fix something and I left it there by mistake' "

Invariably the new fellow would nod with that knowing look, implying  "I got the message".

 

Bear Flag Republic Patrilineage:

2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th generation native California-born Thoms:
Andrew Philip Frederick 1904
Donald Philip 1928
Douglas Michael 1951
Adam Christopher Krusi 1979 

Can't tell you how proud I am to be a part of this wonderful family of men.   

A guy steps out of the outhouse, and while pulling up his pants a five dollar bill slips out of his pocket and down the hole.

He steps outside cursing to his friend who is waiting, and says I just lost a FIVE dollar bill down the hole.  Then he quickly grabs his wallet and thows a twenty dollar bill down the hole.

The friend now looking really puzzled, says - what in the hell did you do that for?!

The guys says - Well if I'm going to reach down in there, I'm going to REALLY make it worth my while! 

After a radio sketch in the 40's Dad would cup his hands around his mouth and break into to the enthusiastic immitation of the racetrack announcer:

".....and here they COME around the final turn.....
it's Rubberband in the stretch....... Bubblegum on the rail...... Mother-in-law nagging at the rear.... Cabbage by a head.... and HERE COMES FEIDELBAUM!!! 

Lots of reflection each day recalling all our time spent together shines a very bright light on Dads overwhelming influence on me.  What a pleasure it has been and how fortunate I am to be his son.  While I may not always have been aware of the fact, dad was clearly my role model.  A quite teacher, he led by constant example.  Being  courteous and kind, building a retaining wall, selling a 2x4 or enjoying conversation over a scotch, were all taught by showing the way with grace and consistency.   The quality of friends that surrounded dad and the respect shown to him by others are clear indications of his character and who he was.

Dad had a true passion for his occupation.  He passed that passion on to me which evolved into a working relationship and a career for which I’m very grateful.    In my early years at the San Carlos store dad worked every third weekend.  The weekends dad didn’t work weren’t quite the same.    We had a ball working together.  I am fortunate beyond description to have had such a working rapport with dad.   

Countless hours we  spent  together fishing, bogey boarding, playing basketball,  skiing, playing baseball, horse shoes, gin rummy, enjoying projects, shooting hoops in the pool, attending A’s and Raider games;  He even took this little kid to see Frank Sinatra.  Added together with looking forward to working with him each day, it seems too good to be true.

 I know he’s in a better place now but I sure miss him.  

Dad had a well-timed remark for just about EVERY circumstance - Here are just a few examples... 

“Well if  L-I-T-E doesn’t spell light, then what the hell does it spell?” – and this was long before anybody ever heard of Bud-Lite.   (also applied to “bord” for board) 

"God Damned Yankee Screwdriver!"  Usually uttered after the bit slips gouging the workpiece.

“This is not a step: – ask Don!” (hand written on top step of step ladder) 

Referring to women’s heavy eye make-up – “Well that looks like two burnt holes in a blanket.” 

Impatiently observing someone being a little too careful or slow:  “You know – we’re not trying to build a piano here……”

Did you hear that buck snort?

“I’m making a mucket for a gooses’ bridle” usually in reply to – what are you making Dad?

“That guys likes to take his half right out of the middle” – usually referring to drivers. 

“…..fits like a saddle on a sow”, referring to a nice tight fit.

Heading for the BBQ with a tray of raw hamburgers in one hand and a drink in the other: “Let’s go burn the meat” 

Don - would you like a glass of water?  Don replies:  “I said I was thirsty, not dirty!” 

“Well that’s all bass-ackwards”  spoonerism for ass-backwards

“Don’t hit the wrong nail”  (refers to fingernail on finger holding a 8d nail)

“Well I’ll be go to hell…” 

“Mount Tamale-puss”  for Mt. Tamalpias

“Heli-a-ca-peter”  for Helicoptor 

“ Come on lady, its not going to get any greener”  referring to driver ahead. 

“Better mark on X on the side of the boat, so we can remember where we caught that fish” 

“Oh, hells bells….”  Usually mildly disgusted 

“That guy’s one brick short of a full load”

“Shit-house-mouse…….” 

“There’s a dime holding up a dollar”

“It looks like you’ve been dragged through a knothole” 

When referring to the St Francis Yachat Club – “there’s Frank’s Boat House”

Looking at a large gap:  “Oh, you’re going to need some of that ¼” putty…..”

“you’ve got the ac-cent’ on the wrong syl-lab’-le

He got his tongue wrapped around his eye-tooth, and he couldn’t see what he’s saying.

Referring to something crooked: “That’s all skadict”

"Huckeldy Buck" – means: get a move on!

Said in digust: “Someone should nail his nuts to a tree stump and push him over backwards”

Upon discovering a pile of dog poop he'd say: "...CAREFUL - don't step on second base!"

Checking to see if a board was nailed down well: "It's tight as a tick"

Upon determining old construction is in good shape: "It's SOUND as a dollar!"

Watching me pick splinters out of my hand after a long day at the lumber yard Dad would say - "Huh, stealing wood again, I see......"

After burning his fingers: "Careful - that thing's hotter-than-a-pistol!"

"Its a poor craftsman who blames his tools"

"RUN to the roundhouse Nellie - they can't CORNER you there!!"

OH, I see you've taking some of those smart pills!





...and there were countless others, almost all said with a smile.