As far as I know, this was everyone's last time to go to the Island House. July of 2008, it was. Wonderful time, yet ended too soon

These two photos were taken at roughly the same time, but at opposite sides of the world. Can you beat that????

One of the things that I looked forward to was on saturday mornings, dad would take me to horseback riding lessons.  I usually rode on Peanut, but sometimes she wouldn't be available and I'd have to ride one that I didn't know. Dad knew I was scared, so he'd hold the bridle while I got up and just when I was sure the horse was going to chew off my leg, dad would put either a carrot or an apple in my hand to give to the horse. He said it was important to make friends by offering something that is considered a treat. Then the horse won't forget me and I won't have to be afraid anymore. Of course it worked. He and I went together to the stables for over a year, then we got into tennis. But that's another story.

This is the church where mom and dad exchanged vows to love eachother enough to share it with 5 kids and 3 grandkids and this is also the church where mom and dad started their eternal life together. 

Well, mommy
I came by on your birthday to see you and I also checked in on dad.  He seems to be doing just fine.  I did the trip by myself, wanted to make it just me and you.  It was very nice.  I miss you very much and hope and I know that you are doing great.  Everything here is good, its very hot, I am sure that where you both are you have a blankie with ya and dad has his Dallas Cowboy sweatshirt on.  Love you both, Tinker

Looking back, I can now see what you were doing with trying to see more of me. Those intimate moments that just you and I had, I hold on to so close. I never felt more love and respect for you than when you told me about that situation with dad and how he was crushed. I understand so much more now, why things got the way they did, and the steadfast way you stood up for me. I know, and I forgive him and I know you feel the same way. The day I brought you home from the hospital, before, when it was just you and I in your bed, you touching me like that, my face, my tattoos, you holding my hand and getting silly with me, making us both cry. No one can take that away from me. Thanks for letting me get mushy with you, and your welcome for getting mushy with me. What was said, will always be between us, and I promise that. It used to bug me about you know, and you know who, but not anymore. I'm not mad at dad, he didn't know, and if he did, well, he has his reasons. I did what you wanted and seems like you were right again, (should never doubt you) and its ok. I'm bigger than that.  I love you mom, please let him know he 's good.

Hey mom, looks like its almost your birthday again, you and Pat share a birthday this month.  I hope that you and dad are doing good, I miss you both terribly.  Hey did you or dad push that candle off that table the other day?  Pretty strange that it was sitting there forever and suddenly it just falls down and rolls to the wood screen divider!  hmmm

Well, work is coming along pretty good, staying busy.  Lately, I have really been missing you guys a lot.  I came over the other day to do the lawn and cried all the way home!  ugh 

Love and Kisses to you both....missing you  Tinker

Can you believe what I just did?? How lame, right? Well, mom, I am so lonely for you. I wish you could talk to me somehow, or show me a sign. I'm really not doing so well. but I am trying. I just get so confused sometimes and then its hard to unscramble things. Not all the time, but more than I like. I love you, and I will return it a bit, gotta get something right.

While living in Oklahoma, I was getting to the age of learning how to drive a car. When I got really lucky, either our mom or dad would dare to venture out with me, and risk everything precious to them and let me drive around the block.  Needless to say, dad thought mom might not be the right person to practice with. She had a habit of using both feet for the pedals. Right was gas, left was brake.  With me being a copycat, clumsy and easily influenced, I messed up a lot with that way of operating a car. The white towel was thrown in, and I was quickly enrolled in drivers education.  

Bedtimes at our house were usually nothing to mess around with. Come 9 pm, school night, lights out and it better be quiet. Forget going to the kitchen for a snack, or sneak a phone call, no way!!! One night, while Kat and I were really trying to go to sleep, I started giggling, which led to Kat giggling.  Before we knew it, I was out of control laughing like a hyena.  Whoa!!! Lights come on and there is dad, 'what the h___ is going on?' . Kat looked at him with those incredibly innocent green eyes, and said, 'Dad, she's laughing in her sleep.'  He looked alittle longer, then smiled, told her to wake me up and go back to sleep, then switched off the light and left.  Later, we could hear dad and mom laughing about it. In the morning, mom asked us about it, then told us that dad had little laughing spells all night, and in the morning told her he got such a great night sleep for a change.   Anyway, to this day, I like it quiet after 9 or 10 at night and don't like people up in the middle of the night. Laughing at anytime is OK though!!!!!!! 

One of the little nursery rhymes mom used to tell us was 'Peter and Paul'.  Goes like this...Two little blackbirds, sitting on a wall. One named Peter, one named Paul. Fly away Peter, fly away Paul. Come back Peter, come back Paul.  She would put little pieces of tissue on her fingertips, I remember  

Our mom was a fantastic seamstress. I remember my aunt Darlene telling us that mom made her own wedding dress, and the flower girls dress.  Her own uniforms for school and so many other things for so many other people. I remember her cloth book covers, long before they were popular.  I also remember mom telling us that she thought of pantyhose and created her own before they were really invented. Curtains, pillowcases, napkins, toaster covers, doilies, doll clothes, everything. While living overseas, our resources were limited somewhat, like no malls, and she would like to let her imagination run wild and create outfits that were unusual. She made me a pair of pants with a matching long vest.  The pants were made of material similar to vinyl, colored misty grey and the vest went to the back of my calves.  My school dance dress was made from a picture in the Sears catalog of one of Barbies nightgowns.  I have the hot little 2 pc. cocktail dress she made in Taiwan. She loved to sew and do crafts so much 

My parents were big on dancing. When they were growing up, when they met, and finally when they became a couple and got married.  Dad was a celebrated young ( I mean very young, like 4,5,6 years old ) tapper. I am going to find that adorable outfit that he wore, photograph it and publish it soon. Yes, he was tapping his way in Ohio while mom was doing it country, old German style. There is a place called Pat's Hall,  where I remember we would all go, and be with our family and friends, relatives, and have such a great time. The band would be playing and all these people, both kids and adults, boys, girls, sometimes even a dog, would all be scooting and sliding and just having a ball. I would step on my dad's shoes and he would 4 square around the big floor, laughing and drinking and loving life. We would watch mom and dad as they moved like poetry in motion together around and around, Our dad, so handsome and gentle with his arm around her waist, in perfect tempo, always smiling

 My parents were the best when it came to keeping secrets. About anything. And special holidays and celebrations were no exception. They would create themes, like, houses, shopping, personal, entertainment.  It would start with something like, vitamins, which would lead to lotions, toothbrushes, new combs or brushes. Then maybe, colognes, perfumes, socks, belts, undergarments. Graduate to towels, rugs, tapes, and then...TVs, cameras, furniture, etc... We never knew.