Showing posts with label Dad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dad. Show all posts
Monday, July 16, 2012
God Bless the USA
My Dad arrived home from Italy last night. He worked there for almost a year. A health issue cut his year requirement short by just a few weeks. He had the job of his dreams working with soldiers on an almost daily basis. I know how special it is to LOVE your job and do what you are supposed to be doing. However, after a year of being away from his family (minus the time home he had at Christmas), I’m THANKFUL to have him home, back in Arkansas! I think he will agree with my song choice for today’s Music Monday.
From the 80’s, Lee Greenwood says it best! ;) God Bless the USA!
Now, I have to take off ‘Visit Dad in Italy’ from my list… Though I still have tickets to go to Italy later this summer… IF all goes well, it will be a mom and daughter trip, not quite the gondola ride we were planning on, but we will make the most of it! Lol!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Happy Pi Day! From one Pye to the world! lol!
There are no excuses for being MIA for almost 2 weeks! Fear not, I am planning on some bucket list completion items; more on that soon. But first, let’s celebrate PI day! From the time I was a little girl I remember my Dad putting the Pi symbol on anything that could potentially be like someone else’s. We always knew what was ours…. Kinda smart! And handy! So, let’s celebrate my heritage as a Pye (Pi), don’t worry, no math required….
Just a friendly reminder with my chalkboard at work.. I blinged it OUT! Anything that sits still in my house too long gets some Bling! ;)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
More than 38 years later, making a memory...
From my trip to North Carolina.
My cousin,Donnie, had the reel-to-reel that belonged to my Grandpa Gil.
He also had a hidden gem in a tape that my Grandpa Gil made for his wife,
my Grandma (Gammy Margaret).
This was the first time my Sisser,
my Mom and I had ever heard his voice. It was nice to hear that although
he was one tough Marine, he was also a romantic... Like my Dad!
Hope you enjoy the listen...
Yea, the video is sideways... UGH, technology! 10 hours hands
on, 24 hours uploading, after 3 tries- it is what it is...
In the words of my Grandpa Gil - "That's the way the mop flops baby!" lol! Yes, we are related!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
S.S. Saturday, my Cousin, Donnie
Today's Someone Special is dedicated
to my new-found cousin, Donnie.
When looking for info on my Grandpa Gil, my aunt gave me the e-mail address for our cousin Donnie. Poor Donnie! I am sure he was overwhelmed after my first e-mail... then we tried to connect, but that was during the time that my Granpa Billy died and life was so busy.
The first time we talked on the phone I was at my parents with my Mom and it was 2 weeks before our planned trip... He was so excited to hear about the visit and even offered to let us stay with him and his wife..
Let me just say, it was a weekend that was just meant to be from the beginning!! Donnie and his wife Linda were the most awesome hosts! Their home was beautiful and their hearts were warm. We laughed, we cried and while sharing old memories, we made lots of new ones.
When looking for info on my Grandpa Gil, my aunt gave me the e-mail address for our cousin Donnie. Poor Donnie! I am sure he was overwhelmed after my first e-mail... then we tried to connect, but that was during the time that my Granpa Billy died and life was so busy.
The first time we talked on the phone I was at my parents with my Mom and it was 2 weeks before our planned trip... He was so excited to hear about the visit and even offered to let us stay with him and his wife..
Let me just say, it was a weekend that was just meant to be from the beginning!! Donnie and his wife Linda were the most awesome hosts! Their home was beautiful and their hearts were warm. We laughed, we cried and while sharing old memories, we made lots of new ones.
I could sing the praises of all that Donnie shared with us and I can say you
will learn more as time goes on, but the most important thing is that he introduced
us to our Grandpa Gil. Grandpa Gil is no longer a stern military picture
my parent's room. He is a fun-loving, practical jokester too. He
knew how to work hard and seemed to play harder. Donnie was there over
the years and looked up to Grandpa Gil. They had common interests and the
opportunity to share space and time.
I can't Thank Donnie enough... He took us around, showed us pictures and set up the reel-to-reel (more on that Monday)... I think I may have taken a year or 2 off his life by leaving my purse at McDonald's, but I hope the laughs and tears make up for that.
Before we left their home on Saturday evening, Dad skyped in. Notice the minute I realize my iPad is ringing...
I can't Thank Donnie enough... He took us around, showed us pictures and set up the reel-to-reel (more on that Monday)... I think I may have taken a year or 2 off his life by leaving my purse at McDonald's, but I hope the laughs and tears make up for that.
Before we left their home on Saturday evening, Dad skyped in. Notice the minute I realize my iPad is ringing...
While we were on Skype Donnie presented Dad with Grandpa Gil's dog tags. It was a teary sweet moment... Bridged between North Carolina and Italy by Skype...
On the way back home we Skyped with Dad sharing all that happened on the trip. Dad said to me, "I sure do wish ya'll could have met him (Grandpa Gil) he was a really neat man." I replied back, "We met him this weekend, Dad."
Dad said wiping his tears, "Boo, I'm just thankful your bucket is big enough for all of us." -- That right there was the cherry on top of a perfect weekend. I am too Daddy, I am too!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
SS Grandpa Gil and my Daddy!
The year was 1975… It was September 4, just days before my Father’s 26th birthday, I was one year old and my Grandfather Pye died. We had never met. He knew I was here, but he was in North Carolina, busy working for McDonald’s. His obituary, found online in October, revealed that he had a year of declining health followed by a week of critical illness before he died at the age of 49. It also revealed a long history of service in the U.S. Marine Corp. He retired at 24.5 years as a Gunnery Sergeant.
In all the years growing up, I learned little of my Grandfather Pye, now affectionately named Grandpa Gil in my mind. (Not like he can argue with what I call him.) He lives as a picture in my mind substantiated by a lone picture that hung in my parent’s room as I was growing up. I can only imagine the man he was. Thankfully Grandpa Gil has opened up a door that I never knew was there. My Dad and I have always had a special relationship, probably because I’m the oldest and he has loved me the longest. (A joke for my Sisser.) Having a 17 year old son I frequently look at my relationship with my parents and think about how things are different and yet the same...
It struck me today; my Dad has always been a grown man since I have known him. Yea, I know what you are thinking, of course he is grown, you are grown, but I mean, grown/mature. In looking into learning more about my Grandpa Gil I realize that my Dad had to grow up fast and take care of himself and his sister. Then I came along… My brother.. Then my sister… And he was in college… Working 2 and 3 jobs to support us… In 1988, he got a job where he didn’t have to work as much and we got to see him more. Looking back, that is when he came alive. All of a sudden he had relief. Money was better, he had a schedule, he enjoyed the work, loved the people…
Our lives are different now and our relationships are evolving. I enjoy EVERY minute I have with my Daddy… And learning about Grandpa Gil, what a blessing! I’m connecting the dots. I found where he was buried in North Carolina. And found out that his wife, my Gammy Margaret is alive… I’m trying to get all of the information together to plan a trip there. My bucket list item is to see his headstone. In reality this is the tip of the iceberg. Looking for his headstone I am finding him and more about my Dad. AWESOMENESS!
I have to add a shout out to my group Rascal Flatts and say congrats on the ACM nominations on Thursday. As I was writing this a song came up on my iPod that really summarizes so much about where I am and this list. The name of the song is When the Sand Runs Out. Look at the lyrics! WOW! I told you they have been the soundtrack to my life! This one is on the Feels Like Today CD.
I spent the morning at an old friend's grave
Flowers and Amazing Grace, he was a good man
He spent his whole life spinnin' his wheels
Never knowin' how the real thing feels
He never took a chance or took the time to dance
And I stood there thinking as I said goodbye
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here
Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah I wanna be runnin'
When the sand runs out
'Cause people do it everyday
Promise themselves they're gonna change
I've been there, but I'm changin' from the inside out
That was then and this is now
I'm a new man, yeah, I'm a brand new man
And when they carve my stone they'll write these words
"Here lies a man who lived life for all that its worth"
And as the cold wind blows across the graveyard
I think I hear the voice of my old friend whisper in my ear
I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
Learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here
Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah I wanna be runnin'
When the sand runs out
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