THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: dad


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Memories

Monday was a very special day in my life. It was a simple day, a short trip to an amusement park. A few raindrops and some lines, but otherwise it was one of the best days.

We got to spend it with our children and grandchildren and one of their friends and children. A day at Hershey Park Pa. that came off perfectly. We went with THREE – 1-year olds, TWO 4-year-olds and a 7-year-old.

Spending a day making little and big kids smile is the definition of satisfaction. I’m beat, but a wonderful kind of beat. I’m even a little sore but I’m sitting here smiling ear to ear.

Times like this are hard for me to describe. It’s such a simple thing but at the same time so important in my memory book. Kids held my hand, wanted me to carry them, wanted to go on rides with me, played with my beard, got hugs for winning them prizes, pushed some in stroller, shared my lunch. I almost smuggled a sip of Mug Root Beer to my grandson, but my son caught me and said no. We got gifts and kept them dry when it rained.

It was a blast making stupid faces, playing peek-a-boo with them, tickling them, and watching all the strollers so the entire family could ride together as I waved to them on each circle of the merry-go-round. I danced with them when the band came by and gave the older grandchildren high fives each time they finished a ride. I helped them hold their bag while they picked what candies they wanted from the bins.

I just realized that I spent the entire day making others smile and I couldn’t be happier myself. I was so busy I didn’t even have one piece of candy the whole day I was in chocolate town. I did have two small Krackle bite size bars when I got home.

It was over a 14-hour day for us, and we slept like we missed a night’s sleep the night before.

I must admit I was a little apprehensive of how the day would go with all those young ones. Plus, the weather forecast couldn’t have been worse (rain all day and thunderstorms that never materialized). But it couldn’t have been better day.

We’d taken our children there decades ago. The park certainly has grown. It’s a park we will go back to with the children again and hopefully put some more files in the mind that I can recall as my time here fades.

I’m breaking one of the rules I have. I don’t normally run pictures of myself or family. But I was so touched by the children’s smiles and love and my own children having a great day with us and them that I’m sharing 2 of myself holding both my granddaughter’s hands that my family sent me last night.

We got to the park as they were opening.

I can’t believe how much this 1-year-old wanted to walk. Most of the time with just one of us holding on or on her own.

This one really likes my beard. She ran her hands through it as I held and walked with her.


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Pony UP and Jump

The more I look at the classic cars the more I’m convinced if I ever need another car (I’m keeping the old Miata) I’d get a classic muscle car.

Well so much for the morning fantasy. I’ve gotten the latest start to the day today in a long time. Guess I needed to catch up on some beauty sleep. It’s not helping that aspect but mentally I do feel a bit more refreshed.

A classic 1960s gray Ford Mustang driving on a road with green bushes in the background.

Today is the last day of cloudy skies and rain for a bit. It’s been feeling swamp like the last few days, but at least it’s helped the drought situation here in the mid-Atlantic a bit. There is a downpour going on outside right now and some thunder.

A classic red Ford Mustang driving on a city street, showcasing its shiny chrome detailing and vintage design.

The Purge and the Priceless

It has begun. My office is already 100% better and it has inspired me to continue so I’m sorting through my old things and my parent’s things.

So many photographs, I’m both very thankful and feel like I’ve been assigned to be a photo editor for two people who have prints from 3-4 decades and they weren’t bashful in pushing the shutter apparently.

I’ve made purges in the past; my mom was an avid gardener. And she also loved taking pictures of her flowers and gardens. I mean lots of them. Years and years of blooms. Or holiday photos or the cat pictures. But as always, some old gems that are priceless and that I want kept in the family for historical purposes.

The few antiques that need to be looked up for value if any. Then comes some tougher things. The personal items. Most of which have gone through a sort or two before. I don’t want to leave my children an overwhelming amount of stuff to go through like we did.

I have a box in front of me of medium size filled with newspaper clippings. Most of my dad’s stuff from his later days in the Navy in the 50s and early 60s. Lots of historical things from ships travels and bases on Operation Deep Freeze I and II. His work in DC at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Today I learned a lot more about my father in a letter to my mom from a Captain that served with him for years. I learned some great things, but it reminded me of some very tough things. Some that I experienced when I was young. My dad had health struggles late in his young life.

But I’m extremely glad to have a better picture of him when he was healthy and the work, he did and how he went about it. Things I never got to talk to him about.

Found a shot of his of this penguin jumping on Operation Deep Freeze. I have a number of slides he took that have a lot of nature there also that I have to digitize. I haven’t run into too many prints yet but there are a few more boxes.

A group of penguins on an icy landscape with some swimming in the water and a mountainous background, captured in black and white.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Family is a lifetime commitment.
  • Tomorrow the cover comes off and some seat time in the convertible will be had.
  • I’ve added ice cream to my list of additions. I wish I could help myself. I guess working in an ice cream factory at a young age scarred me for life.
  • By the end of the day, I will no longer be embarrassed to bring someone into my office.


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Century

My father would have been 100 today. I have 7 pictures of him above my desk that I’m looking at. I’m trying to learn more about him, from some mementos my mom kept of his life and service. I wish I knew the man much better.

I was young when he passed and the last few years of his life were difficult with health. I don’t know if I’m like him or different. My mom said that I had some of his traits. I do know I’ve missed him all my life. It’s difficult, even to this day, to open a box of his things.

Dad

I put off a visit this past weekend, it was pretty sloppy outside so I’ll go this coming weekend.

From Dad’s headstone. Photo by Mike Hartley

This picture below is from him on Operation Deep Freeze with the US Navy in the 1955-56 expedition to Antarctica. I believe his role with the medical wing. I know he had his name on some research papers written on that mission and the cold effects on people and evaluating the gear to combat it.

He enlisted in the Navy several months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the start of WWII. He was on a Destroyer in the Pacific in the early 40s. He was in war in Korea but I have found few details of that so far. He was medically discharged from the service after a few decades and that is what my mom said killed him because he loved it so.

So Happy Birthday Dad. I’m sorry you had so few to celebrate.


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Remember and wonder

This morning I find myself thinking of what my father would think of my family now. Or what I’ve done in my career. And how I took care of mom and my sister after he was gone. Maybe the friends I have or the home I live in. Maybe his feeling about me not following his footsteps into the Navy.

I wonder a lot about what his perspective would have been to those and many more things in life.

The early years. Photo by Mike Hartley

He passed this day many decades ago. It’s one of those days that gets etched permanently in ones mind as a youth. It’s painful, it’s like a reel of film from that moment to his burial. The images and words and memories associated with that event are easily replayed today as if it were then.

I’m going to spend some time in his old slide cabinets of his time at sea and different stations. There are also some letters and other papers of his. I’m finally going to put that on the agenda to sort through this year and hopefully get some more history and feeling of the man and make sure my family has that as well as the memories of my mom going forward. It’s good to document.

I loved walking to the beach before sunrise. Photo by Mike Hartley

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • I miss the sand in my toes already.
  • If I’m not mistaken my mindset has changed a bit.
  • The camera is clicking again.
  • Feels great to get a good start on the day.
  • The storms be coming. Hunker down Marylanders.