Dad

It's been a quiet two days around here.  Thanksgiving was a time of reflection, and I won't stick my nose outside the door on Black Friday, so I just kept reflecting.  In these two days, my thoughts have turned often to my Dad.  He was the anchor of my life, the steady, loving presence whose love was always there, always unconditional.  My Aunt once said that "Dick was born a gentleman, he didn't have to learn how." 

So, I thought I'd share a few pictures of him with you all.  There aren't many, and, as I don't have a scanner, they aren't the best in quality, but I hope you will be able to get a picture in your mind's eye of the man who was always at the center of my life.

This is Dad when he graduated from Mechanic's Institute.  Dad was born in 1903, so this picture would have been taken somewhere around 1921.  Dad didn't finish high school, but went to technical school instead.  Mechanic's Institute later became the Rochester Institute of Technology.

 

Dad was a very happy bachelor, until he met my Mom.  He was 40 when he married her, and 45 when I was born.  This is the picture that my Mom always carried in her wallet.  I think that it was probably taken in the late 1930's or early 1940's.  When she died, I put it in my wallet.

  

And, this picture, with my Mom, was taken in the 1970's.  It's the only portrait I have of them together.  He just grew handsomer, as he grew older.

 

People say that I look like my Mom, but that I have my Dad's personality.  That's fine with me.  I couldn't think of a more wonderful person to take after.  Though, I think I am very glad that I got Mom's hair, rather than Dad's lack of it.