THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: memories


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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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Memories

Usually there is a candle on the table I work at with my easel. I was closing up the other night and had turned off the lights and was walking away when I noticed I hadn’t blown it out. I walked back and put my head down to do it and saw my dad’s flag in its case about 10 feet behind it on the wall.

Took a few moments to think about him.

I hope I leave my children with many good memories. Some have few to draw from. So they are charished even more. Photo by Mike Hartley

After I smiled, picked up the camera from the coffee table that was acting as a studio spot and took this shot before heading to bed.


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If the shoe fits

Sorry I’m late getting into the holiday spirit. Now that I’m feeling better, I’m going to dive headlong into the season.

Photo by Mike Hartley

The season means a lot of things to me. It’s changed quite a bit over the years. There are many things and people I miss from my past. There are new things like the grandchildren to help fill those voids. There are my own children who each past Christmas are etched in this brain.

Some seasons in the past have been difficult. The pressures of having the right gifts, being able to do all I hoped and feeling like I’ve come up short.

From a very young age missing someone important each year was very hard. More so in watching the impact on my mom and sister. Mom made heroic efforts to make sure our holiday was good, but it always came with her tears and cries, no matter how hard she tried to hide and muffle them. I could see the longing in her eyes, missing her husband. The loneliness she tried to push down was just below the surface.

I also remember her refocusing some years later and the times she would load the car with crafts and gifts and decorations to take and make Bethesda Naval Hospital a festive holiday scene in the units she worked as a Red Cross volunteer. She really got into it. Making so many things by hand. I wish I had a sliver of the artistic talent she had.

I can remember her telling me stories about some of the patients. I think she always looked at these servicemen as an extension of what she lost and could help. She was active in the VFW Woman’s Auxiliary for years also and would do holiday things for them for some years. But she really got into the Red Cross work.

Makes me think I should get more involved in helping others this season. There is no such thing as a effort too small or too late. Sometimes the smallest gestures or gifts mean the most to some. Think I’ll start by making a donation in Mom’s name today to the Red Cross.


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Back in the Day

Found an old photo I guess my mom snapped of me looking into a huge mixing bowl or the washing machine.

Ah to be young again. I still feel young in mind. At least when I push all the bullcrap going on in this country and people around the world to the side for a few moments of mental health.

With snow in the forecast Sunday, I think back to the day when I was just a little older than above and in our first home. I lay in the middle of our backyard making snow angles at night. The quiet and beautiful sky above is still clear in my mind.

Go Navy. Photo by Mike Hartley

Another memory from my early youth is one of my parents being so excited about the Army-Navy game. This takes place this Saturday and I’ll be pulling for my parent’s team GO NAVY. There is a huge chest with pictures, and I remember some of them from being at the Army Navy game when it was played in Philadelphia in the 1950s if my memory is correct.

Go Navy BEAT ARMY. Photo by Mike Hartley