Crosby's Two

For the last 15 years or so we’ve had a dog as a part of our family, two little non-shedding dogs. First there was Libby and later came Brownie.

In 2018, however, Crosby joined our family. She’s McKenzie’s dog. 

A so-called “beagle-mix” from Wolftrap Animal Rescue whose namesake is Sidney Crosby, a player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team.

                          

A perpetual smile on her face, Crosby’s a sweet, 50-pound ball of energy who, along with our daughter, has been staying with us since the quarantine began. The condo McKenzie lives in doesn’t offer Crosby much opportunity to chase squirrels or birds or dig holes unsupervised but since she’s been here she’s gotten plenty of all three of those things. 

It's her birthday and today, she’s two.

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B.F.'s Birthday

Today is my dad's birthday.  He's 78!  

Born at home in Star, NC, sometimes called "Twinkle Town" (at least by the members of our family), the doctor wrote "Billy", rather than my grandparents' intended "William", on his birth certificate.  He's been known as Billy since, though almost always signs his name B.F. (Franklin).  

In a Popeye suit with a Popeye doll!  

My dad moved with his parents and older sister to Newport News, Virginia when he was 5.  Raised by hardworking parents in tough times, he was athletic (football and baseball) 

That's him, number 16, front row, right.  

and industrious (paper route stories abound) and well-liked (voted Best-All-Around in high school).  He married my mom (a classmate a few year younger) just a couple years out of high school and served in the Army in the late 50's stationed in Germany.  When he returned, he resumed a job working for the local telephone company (did me proud when he put his install skills to use connecting all the girls' phones on my hall my second year in college).  

Father of the bride. 

He helped raise 4 kids and worked long and hard (overtime when and where it was offered).  And, he's smart, I might add. He made his way to and up the corporate ladder and is a true American success story, though I doubt he ever thinks of himself that way.  I'm proud of him and what he's accomplished. 

With his mom in 1997.  He was the "apple of her eye" but his temperment is more
like his own dad's, who was referred to, interestingly enough, as H.F. 

My kids call him "Pop"

I wrote a post back in February about my dad, but didn't want his day to pass without acknowledging the loving and sentimental husband, father and grandfather he is today.  Happy Birthday, Dad!  

Happy Mother's Day

M. Cassatt, “Maternal Kiss”

Heart Month

In February of last year my cute dad had a heart attack.

It was really unexpected because he's always been active.  In fact, his heart attack followed a long afternoon of leaf raking.  Fortunately, my mom's quick thinking and a super team of EMTs got my dad to the hospital quickly where he received great treatment.  I am happy to report he is doing well; he's a super compliant patient and takes his heart health seriously.


He was so grateful for the medical care her received that he agreed to appear in an ad for the local hospital.  His photo appeared in the newspaper for a couple of months and he's since become a VERY reluctant "celebrity".  My sister managed to get him to pose in front of the ad's billboard (pretty neat, huh?).

The moral of this story: take care of your heart and no billboards will be necessary.  

Grandparents' Day

I must confess, I thought Grandparents' Day was the creation of the folks at Hallmark.  But no, truth be told, 32 years ago President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day, Grandparents' Day.  This year it falls on September 11th.  

(L) Bessie and Herbert McKenzie and (R) Ellen and Marshall Harrison
on my wedding day, June 23, 1990.  Having all 4 of my grandparents at my wedding
was (an understatement) excellent.

And though the parents of my mother and father have been gone more than ten years, I still remember them often and really miss them.  I am so thankful to have had dear and loving grandparents.  


Here's a few special photos of the other "grand" folks in our lives:

McKenzie with "Grandmother".  Her husband, Jim, is  also like a grandfather to our children.

McKenzie and Tate with "Grandfather"

My kids' "Pop" and "Nan"

Tate with "Pop" (I added this photo of the two of them looking at a book because it's adorable).

and also, 

My husband's maternal grandmother and grandfather, Ruth and Earl Tuck.
"Grandma" Tuck passed away just last summer. 

So this weekend, I hope those fortunate enough, like me, to have or have had terrific grandparents, will celebrate.