TallRider Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I just needed a place to express this . . . and as tough an audience as you guys can be, this is as good a place as any. At a healthy age of 85, my Dad has finally retired. He graduated from Excelsior High School in '39, enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 8th, 1941. Although he never left the States while serving as a B-26 bombadier (my Mom continues to kid him that he could operate a Norden bombsight but can't run the VCR), he lost two of his crews after he had transferred to either another crew and later became an instructor. After his discharge from the Ary Air Corps, he graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and became a newspaper editor . . . are reporter, and photgrapher, and sports writer for a small town paper (for years he used the name "Steve Bosko" to write the sports so people would think they had a real live sports writer). In 1965 he became the Public Relations and Group Sales Director at the Old Log Theatre outside of Minneapolis on Lake Minnetonka . . . the theatre where actors like Nick Nolte, Lonnie Anderson, and Julia Duffy got their stage starts. He taught my bothers and I to swim before we could walk, bats left and golfs right, is an author, historian, musician and since he joined God knows how many years ago has never missed a Rotary meeting. He's now retired . . . and I am so lucky to still have both him and my Mom alive and healthy. He was never too excited about my riding, until he got his first look at my Indian. Now he can hardly mention me without telling anyone who'll listen what I ride. He taught me the importance of family and the value of a job well done - in that order. He continues to be an inspiration and a role model, and I'm proud to have him as my Dad. So many of you have written about the loss of one of your parents or family, so I just wanted to use my Dad's retirement announcement as an excuse to recognize him to a group that I am proud to be associated with . . . 'cause I know I'll need your support someday when he's no longer with us. As my Dad would say - "don't drive around aimlessly - there's a lot of cops out there". Ride safe - ride lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Cheef Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 COOL POST!! Congratulate your Dad for me on his retirement. Then thank him for me for his service. Then--tell him to relax--and enjoy what he has spent a lifetime earning. God Bless the WW2 Vets! Saved the world those guys did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 TallRider, Enjoy your time with your folks. This is time you will never get back. God has Blessed you. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCH Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Great post Tallrider. Enjoy your dad while you can, he sounds like a great guy. Tough room to play or not, I can't see anyone knocking your post. Sounds like you have a good heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldev Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Congrats Tall Rider. That's very cool for you and your father. My father took an early retirement four years ago. After 30+ years in medicine with not a single malpractice claim or patient death, he decided he needed to go back and spend some time with his family instead of all the other families he helped raise. As a pediatrician, you couldn't have asked for better. As a father, the best. One thing he still talks about today was meeting all the Indian riders at the premiere of The World's Fastest Indian. By chance, my mom and dad happened to be out here visiting when that all came down. You would have thought the two of them were in their teens again that night. They loved every minute of it and still talk about all the guys and gals that rode with them that night. I was thrilled that I was able to share that with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charger Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 TallRider, Enjoy your time with your folks. This is time you will never get back. God has Blessed you. Rosie AMEN ta that......!!!! yer a lucky fella ENJOY i sure miss my parents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fungus Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 TallRider..... please tell your father congratulations for having worked so hard, and finally retiring.......having served our country myself, I agree that he definitely needs thanks for being in the big war....also please tell him to enjoy life....to slow down a bit and make sure he is truly smelling the flowers as it were. and for you....see them or talk to them every chance you get........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colo.gw Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 MOST EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! have you had the opp. to take him for a ride? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 I sure miss my Dad. Tallrider, I envy you. Your Dad is one lucky guy to have gotten to this stop on the road without losing his luggage and still has his family to enjoy the scenery with him. A finer deal of the cards no one has a right to expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOE Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 great post tallrider, i have lost my mom and dad. spend all the time you can with them and do what you can for them, you won't refret it. sounds like you have a great dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallRider Posted January 19, 2007 Author Share Posted January 19, 2007 At the instance of Valerie (who lost her Dad several years ago and her Mom has Alzheimers), we began taping a family history by video taping my parents telling the family story. I think we're up to '65 or so. Part of me doesn't want to finish the project, but the goal is to take all the digital video, edit it, mix in some stills with their narrative as a voice over, and produce a family DVD. Dad wrote a book about growing up in the Depression - "Good Luck On Your Downward Journey". He worked at the local amusement park in the summer, and they would have traveling acts come out each weekend to perform. One was a guy named Captain Jack something-or-other (NOT "Sparrow") . . . they would dig a deep pit, then put a bottomless barrel structure over it, line the whole thing with a tarp, fill it with waterand to the unknowing eye it looked like there was a huge 6' tall barrel filled with water. Captain Jack and his horse would then climb a ramp to a platform perched above the barrel, and after the barker would yell "Good luck on your downward journey!" they would dive in the barrel. A rather fitting title for a book about the 30's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary2Wheels Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 (edited) TR....OK ,I'm watchin'.....an I see your Dad beamin' over there Edited January 19, 2007 by Gary2Wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Yes you are a lucky man... enjoy all the time you can with them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clan Chief Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Norden bomb sight--- now there was a trick piece of machinery. Just saw a PBS special about it. Your dad must have been something to run that. Congratulate him for us-- and thank him for his service. He, and guys like him, including my dad, ---- saved the world. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zit Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 please pass on congradulations from minnesota to your dad...i was out in Excelsior a couple times this summer on the shores of lake minnetonka..it's a gorgeous area. tell him the big amusement park in excelsior is gone, as well as the streetcar that ended at the streetcar boat, that would take you to the island, but he's even luckier that he knows...across the bay, harleyknot has his stereo all cranked up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micmac Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 TR you are a lucky man. My Dad passed in 2005. I miss him each and every day. I requested a Navel Honor Guard, I thought you know, maybe 3-5 sailors would attend. When I buried him the United States Navy sent a shit load of Sailors. My Pops was on Corregidor when it fell to the Japs. Currently I am reading a book called "The Ghost Soldiers" about what those men faced, I knew it was bad, but not that bad. He never spoke of it, would only say that he was in the Navy "During the War". Once a year this guy would show up in the late 50's and early 60's that was a Marine and Dad would go off with him for a day or two, only time I saw him drink. I was to discover later from my uncle they spent those years together and made a promise to each other that if they got out together, as long as they lived, they would get together once a year to remember their lost friends. His friend was KIA in Nam in the early days. I couldn't help but smile inwardly that a female sailor was blowing taps, oh yea, Charlie would've loved that! Enjoy him each and every day they most certainally are our gate to eternity. When a parent is gone it is a sad event indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallRider Posted January 19, 2007 Author Share Posted January 19, 2007 zit: My folks still live in Excelsior where I grew up . . . we rented a house on Lake Minnetonka last summer in August for a week so that family could come and spend time with us. At age 84 last summer Dad was still giving historical walking tours around Excelsior and does speaking engagements about the history of the area. My middle brother had to talk him out of giving one when the temp was 95+. I think he can remember every editorial he ever wrote for the Minnetonka Record. While Bainbridge Island is now home for me, my roots are back in Excelsior . . . I spent more time swimming and later lifeguarding at Excelsior Beach . . . and playing pick-up basketball games at the Commons from morning till after dark. zit: My grandmother . . . my Dad's mom . . . worked at the Excelsior Amusement Park as a cook until she was 82! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zit Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 amazing set of folks you have pal.. i'll be expecting a call next time you come to town. we'll have to bring the northwinds boys & girls to Maynard's more often next summer, and rev em up to see if we can get a rise out of your pop. if you need any local stuff done, i've got'cher back pal! i'm over near the fairgrounds, but as you know everything's close around here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indian T Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 I sure miss my Dad. Tallrider, I envy you. Your Dad is one lucky guy to have gotten to this stop on the road without losing his luggage and still has his family to enjoy the scenery with him. A finer deal of the cards no one has a right to expect. I miss "the old man" too. Didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with him as my parents split up when I was a young boy. Towards the end of his road though, we got to get pretty close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whadayawant Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Norden bomb sight--- now there was a trick piece of machinery. Just saw a PBS special about it. Your dad must have been something to run that. Congratulate him for us-- and thank him for his service. He, and guys like him, including my dad, ---- saved the world. Bob Ah yes, th' generation that saved our ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 TallRider - congratulations to your Dad on his accomplishments in life - which include by the way - a son who recognises this gift and is so proud he shares it. Best wishes to your entire family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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