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DAD'S LOVING LESSONS :-)

July 21, 2015

When I was 18 years old I was in the second semester of my Junior year of high school. A couple friends stopped by and told me they were going to go to Alaska to work as fishermen on a commercial fishinng vessel. I wanted so bad to go but going would mean dropping out of school and retaking that semester of school. I asked Mom if it would be OK. After much convincing, well OK badgering, she told me to ask Dad. I'm pretty sure Mom thought Dad would say no and that would put an end to it. Though Mom did help me to find the right time and way to ask Dad. She said the trick is to ask him at work. So after a bit of procrastination I called Dad at the Envirosafe Security station as soon as I summoned up the courage to ask. To my amazement Dad said yes BUT with one condition. I had to agree to finish school when I returned. I gladley accepted the condition and went on to have a great time and made many memories I cherish to this day. I did finish school. And went to Alaska as a fishermen several times after. However this was my first forray into adultthood. And though I may not have recognized it at the time I certainly can see now the amount of trust and letting go it must have taken to allow me to take such a big step allowing me to go on just my word alone that I would finish school. It was on that first vessel, Thhe All Alaskan, I found the lessons I had learned from Dad to be true. For instance when I was working with the electrical crew as a temp while they were rewiring much of the ship due to a fire. I was kept on their crew the longest of all the temps because I did what the boss asked and in the way he wanted it done. As my Boss, and Dad before hiim, had said if you do it the way your boss said and its wrong then it's his fault and and not much he can do. But if you do it another way and it's wrong then it IS your fault and you don't have a leg to stand on. This point was proven when 2 electricians had screwed up a wiring job. The Boss specifically said to use 2 breakers for the lights in a room. The 2 of them decided they could do it wih one. But when they had to work on the lights in that room again and had to use flashlights, the Bosses wisdom became apparent. Had they received the same sound advice I had from Dad they would have followed the Boss's directions and been able to keep one circuit while working on the other. This lesson has served me well on many jobs throughout my life. I'm greatfulto you Dad Thank's Pops

In Your Memory Dad :-)

May 29, 2014

Hi Dad, We took you with us when we went mushroom picking. We grabbed your thermos and filled it with the water from the wattering hole in Sweet. We thought of you the entire time you were with us in spirit. So we took a photo of the mushrooms with your thermos and tge flowers we picked on the mountain side,  to show you we were thinking of you as we do everyday, but this time was in rememberance of Memorial Day. You were a Vet so I thank you for your service.  I didn't get to be on this memorial page on Memorial Day weekend so I am doing this a bit late, but love you and think of you all the time. Love Forever Sis

October 9, 2012

Hi Dad, I am giving you these flowers because as you know today is my Birthday and you would always call on my special day to say Happy Birthday. I am so missing that. So I thought I would sit here and think of fond memories I have so you are with me in spirit today. The thing I have been thinking of lately is that you and the rest of our family would watch Little House On The Prairie. We would wait all week until the final day. We would also watch Mash in the same way. So I thought I would find a photo of wild flowers that reminded me of the ones on the show to share with you today. I love you Dad.

Pops & Hugs

April 10, 2012

I made this graphic design in honor of the one year anniversary of Pops' passing.  It is best viewed in full zoom (click on the photo twice to zoom in all the way), but I included the text for ease of reference.

Hugs & My Dearest Pops!

The best memory I have about Pops is his world famous hugs.  With just the mention of a hug, he made you feel like you read his mind and picked out the best gift ever.  Starting when I was little, giving him a hug before bed, before leaving, or just because, Pops made me feel like the most special person in the world.  And with that, I will always remember how very special indeed he truly is.  

Love,
Ana  

June 20, 2011

One time our family went to a family reunion. Some of us deceided to go swimming at the pool. Well, I wasn't very good at swimming so I always swam underwater. Well dad was scared that I had been down under the water much to long and jumped in to save me. In my heart at the time I thought I was doing just fine, looking back at it now, I know dad was right. :-) I love you dad, you saved me many times as I was growing up. 

Lori 

ROSES FOR MY FATHER

May 13, 2011

THESE FOWERES ARE FOR YOU DAD AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THIS TYPE OF ROSES.  You would always give me a rose off the bush I gave you which you planted in the front yard. I would bring them home with me and put them in my window sill in a vase. They were so pretty to watch, and smelled so nice. Now mom will have to carry on that tradition. And don't think I won't hold her to it. :-)  I love you, Sis,

May 8, 2011

I remember the Ravens growing up. Bill his son wanted them as a pet. As the birds grew  they became very agressive, they would even sit on Ralph's shoulder and watch his pocket where he has his smokes, then when the opportunity came, they would pick out one smoke and fly off with it.

Then after that when they grew even older they would swoop down at you when you would go outside, and one time it pecked at Ralph's hand and drew blood then went crazy and kept pecking harder and harder until he knew the Raven wasn't going to stop and shewd it away.

 They had the birds from little until later on.

May 8, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ3-PHktE34&feature=player_detailpage

This is a song which reminds me of my dad. After my dad had come home from the hospital, I was over visiting and was on my way home that day when this song came on the radio. It made me stop and think of how my dad use to be before he got sick with cancer. He would want us to remember him when he had his moments when he was second to none. And that is how I will always remember him. To me he always will be second to none. He will always be out on that boat with a fish on the end of the line, or soaring sky high in a plane. Lori Ormsby

THINGS RALPH TAUGHT HIS CHILDREN

May 6, 2011

 

1. To always be on time preferrable 15 minutes early.

2. Never give up on anything, as things have a way of working out.

3, Never to borrow anything if not absolutly necessary as that's when it will most certainly break down, then you have to replace it since you were in posession of it. And when you do borrow something you need to return it in as good of shape as it was when you got it if not in better shape.

These are just a few of the lessons added to Andy's letter below as I know he learned them as well. And I will add more as I think of them, because just as Andy said we are him and he is us.

LETTER TO FATHER FROM YOUNGEST SON

April 27, 2011

                                         TO MY FATHER,

I have been spending the last few hours trying to think of some memento I could ask for to remember you by. Something special to you and me. The more I think of it the more I come up with the same answer. There is no one single item I can hold and think of you. There are, however, places I remember from childhood where I could feel your presents like when I was in the garage in the house in Grand View (though it was usually "I hope I don't get caught and grounded"), The canal district shop down town. I truly enjoyed working with you there.

Unfortunately I can't hold a place or a time in my hands. So once again I found myself pondering. After a couple hours the answer was obvious. I don't need an object or memento as I AM the memento. You are present in everything I do, everything I AM. You inspired the music I listen to. From the train/truck songs of C.W. McCall to the cowboy ballads of Marty Robbins they are the first songe I ordered when I got my MP3 player. I like to listen to them and go back in time to happy memories of family listening to records. I remember watching Star Trek, and Documentaries on TV with you. Now I love science fiction shows (much of which becomes science fact in time.) You created within me a love of learning about what's around me and how it works.

You are also there in my beliefs. My desire to keep a job and do my very best at it. My black and white thinking. We both hate "gray areas". Heck, we even share the same pet peeves. Whisteling, humming, singing, loud gum chewing are just as annoying to me as they were to you. Dad, I also inherited your ability of word smithing. Others often come to me to help them write important letter, fill out reports or requests. Whenever there is a call for a certain elliquence in the message. I only wish I had also inherited your ability to spell as well.

So as you can see pops, everything I need to remember you by is within me. Always has been and thankfully always will be. My love is with you till we meet again (thought I hope you don't mind if I take my time getting there).

Thank you for everything you gave to me.

Your Loving Son

Andy.

 Here is a song Andy said he would like to deicate to his father. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_-lh8GoGQs&feature=player_detailpage  Here is the other song he would like to dedicate to his father. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVShyI57Dyk&feature=player_detailpage

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