4 generations — my grandfather, my father, my oldest brother with my niece Anita (Sorry for the poor quality. My family was musically talented but couldn’t take a good photo if their life depended on it!)
Today is my Dad’s birthday. If he were alive he would be over 100 years old. He’s been gone a long time but my memories of him live on as vividly as if he were still here.
He was generally a homebody (and I wonder where I got that from). I don’t remember my parents traveling anywhere. Of course it may have been money issues. He lived through the depression, working hard to survive.
On the other hand, my Dad’s father, my grandfather was the great wanderer. He emigrated from Germany in the 1890s but went back to visit occasionally.
My grandfather played the accordion and stories have it that he was a troubadour of sorts back there. Here he was a farmer. I don’t remember him much except for his bouncy walk but my brothers have stories of stealing homemade wine from the barn.
My Dad also played the accordion and would often play and sing songs just for me. Since I was the only daughter, we had a very special bond. He has been gone 56 years but in some ways it seems like yesterday.
This is the song he always sang for me and this one is for family!
Oh yes, he could dance like this too. Move over Fred Astaire!
Views and Mews by Coffee Kat 
Funny thing. Apparently Lawrence Welk had a Swedish accent. I never heard it until someone commented about it. Try as I might, I really couldn’t hear it, maybe because I never really heard my dad’s Dutch accent until someone commented. No, I’m not deaf, just focused on their smiles and the gracious charm both exuded. Did your Dad or grandfather have an accent?
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My grandfather didn’t speak English at all. I don’t remember my Dad having an accent but my mother used to pronounce her “v” like a “w” sometimes. I think that was part of a German accent. Of course we teased her relentlessly.
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It would be nice if our parents could keep on living until we are this age, since it would give us the wisdom to ask more questions. Glad you have older brothers who may be sources of memories about your family. I may have shared that my grandmother came from Germany, met my grandfather on a street corner in NYC. He was an immigrant from Sweden. These are wonderful memories, especially of your father singing to you, playing the accordion and dancing! The song he liked to sing to you, is quite lovely. I watched “Lawrence Welk” only at my grandparents’ house, so this brought back some memories to me, too. Thank you so much, Kate.
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I wish we had better cameras and video cameras back then. Even recording devices to preserve some of these memories would have been wonderful.
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Such a sweet piece, Kate. Dad’s and their daughters are special…so special. My mother was widowed at 59 yrs old…oh how we all missed him, still do. She absolutely adored Lawrence Welk…her fav program. Thanks for the memories…!
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Thanks for stopping by and Lawrence was a staple at our house.
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wonderful post to your Dad. The only good thing about time I’ve found is that the sweet memories rise to the top like a beach ball in the pool.
My Dad was a wonderful dancer, too, and I remember dancing with him at weddings to a band with an accordion … that song takes me right back there! MJ
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I love your analogy about the beach ball. You are so right. I can’t remember a single negative thing about my Dad.
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How touching is this…your closeness with your Dad made me think of that photo Robin Williams put up on instagram with his only daughter saying…you’ll always be my little girl.
And I’m certain 56 years off the planet hasn’t changed that for your father. Sweet piece.
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Thanks.
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What a beautiful tribute to your father, Kate. He’s smiling, that I know. xo
Happy Birthday to your dad!
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Yes, it always was a glorious summer birthday.
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What a lovely memory to have! I keep meaning to say to you that I love your header photos too and how they keep changing – I love to see those happy cats!
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I should add a few new ones in the headers. It’s been a while. Thanks for you nice words.
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Ah yes. A pretty song!!!! I also remember the Lawrence Welk Show!!! My grandmother used to watch it! We were always annoyed. But the piece you chose was really nice with distance on it!!!! Nice too about your Dad!
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As I got older I would roll my eyes but my mother liked to watch it.
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What a great way to remember your father. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard this waltz before, but my family watched Lawrence Welk each week, so probably so. Wonderful post.
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Thanks. We watched it too.
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Happy Birthday to your Dad!
One of our nieces turned 16 today . . . she passed her driving test this morning. Yay!
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Oh the freedom of driving. I remember it well.
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Happy Birthday to your dad, and hugs and kleenex are sent to you virtually.
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Awwww thanks!
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How lovely that that song brings back good memories!
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Good memories, wet eyes and a blob in the throat. It does all that.
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Oh, that wonderful music.
Now, everytime you hear it, it’s like your dad or Grandfather saying hello?
Enjoy the day
(and everyone used to look like that..”beauty” changes with the era)
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and cameras got easier and better!
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and people don’t have to be still and smile for such a long time. That probably helps the pix look more natural
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and we don’t store them in the basement or attic anymore. They are in clouds somewhere.
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Memories keep loved ones alive! Wonderful post.
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Yes, sometimes even I am amazed that my memories are so vivid. I was so young.
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Kate! I just have to tell you. Your Lawrence Welk clip? That man playing the accordion is Weird Al’s dad!? I am sure you knew that!!! I mean how many people are named Yankovic?
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Not many I hope!
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🙂
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