4 generations — my grandfather, my father, my oldest brother with my niece Anita (Sorry for the poor quality)
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 except for a very occasional day trip. 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. I was the only daughter and we had a very special bond. He has been gone 57 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 
🙂 ❤
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A very sweet tribute Kate.
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Thanks.
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Lovely tribute to your dad, Kate. Thanks for sharing him with us.
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Thanks.
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Very sweet memories of your dad. I was daddy’s girl too. I loved my mother dearly but the bond I had with my father was quite special. How lucky you were to have a musician in the family!
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All of my family could sing very well except for me. Didn’t get that gene!
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I really enjoy hearing the memories you share with us. There is no statute of limitation on the love and longing for parents…even 57 years later. I am very fortunate to have both my parents still living, but my husband lost his dad when he was just ten, and him mom twenty years ago. I see what that impact has on him from time to time. I thick it’s really special that you have “celebrated” your dad’s birthday in your own way, and I’m so glad you allowed us to know him a little bit, too. ox
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You are right. I miss both of my parents. My mother lived much longer but she’s been gone since 86 and every once in a while I still get the urge to pick up the phone and call her. (PS: She would still tell me my dress is too short or my hair needs a combing. Gotta love that.)
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This post is so sweet and I can feel how much you still miss your Dad. I believe our parents are who we are, and it is their love and our memories of them that connect us in very special ways through generations. Thank you for sharing your Dad’s birthday and your memories of music, dancing, and love.
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That is a beautiful way of saying it. It does connect up. I don’t remember my grandparents except for one and I only know him as an old man so my parents and the very few stories I have of my grandparents are the connection.
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I don’t remember my grandparents either Kate, but I truly believe that not only their genes, but their personalities and preferences, fears, joy and feelings are transmitted to their children, and then on to us. So even though we have no specific memories of the grands, those memories reside in our parents and then reside again in ourselves. Oh my, I am being philosophical here!
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Yes you are! And beautifully!
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Beautiful memories Kate! My grandfather aspired to play the accordion but sadly was not very good! This post reminded of me of some great times with my dad and my grandfather.
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So glad I jiggled some memories for you. Wish I had some grandfather ones.
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If my dad were still alive, he would be 100 this Dec. 12. I hadn’t thought of that until this moment, thanks to your post.
You don’t see accordions much these days. What dances did your dad do? Do you remember the polka and the Schottische?
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Polkas, waltzes, foxtrot. I don’t remember Schottische but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. My Dad would be over 100. Hard to believe.
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Kate, a bond between a dad and his girls (in this case, girl) is something special. She’ll always be your daughter is the way I look at it. The fact he had you a 45 really made you special to him, of that I’m sure. Wished I could play the accordion too. Wished your dad could have at least seen the century mark. Have a great weekend. ;o)
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Thanks for your kinds words!
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:O)
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Being the only daughter has its advantages… 😉
(I speak from experience. I had three older brothers. LOL)
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Yes it does. Being the MUCH younger daughter is super great. My brothers were teenagers when I was born so I was quite a novelty.
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Mine were 9,10, and 12 years older. One brother would always introduce me as “My sister, the only child.” …I took advantage of it all. 😉
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I love that. Reminds me of my brother who at 85 introduces his wife as his first wife!
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What a nice tribute to your dad. I just realized that my dad’s birthday is a week from today – he would have been 94. And he was also one of the guys who rocked out to Lawrence Welk! Bubbles!!
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Happy birthday to your Dad too!
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Love the picture — thanks for sharing your memories. My maternal great-great grandfather emigrated from Germany also. He was furious over the rise of the Kaiser and German Nationalism — so angry that no one was allowed to speak German in his household ever. In WWI, one of my great uncles was a guard in a POW camp in Arizona and ran into a German who recognized the familial surname. The German POW told my great uncle the family was from Lippenhold.
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That’s more family history than I have.
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Really? Even though your grandfather went back to Germany? Did no one collect stories?
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They are all dead. No one wrote anything down. My brother has some wild stories that my late aunt told him but no one knows for sure how much is real and how much got enhanced over the years. My grandfather as quite the outgoing character who traveled back to Germany frequently. One of these days I am going to spend time on ancestry.com to see what I can find.
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It looks like you are a Daddy’s Girl like me – it sad when they are gone but at least we can remember
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The memories never go away.
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How lucky you are that you had a special bond with your dad. My parents faithfully watched Lawrence Welk’s show also. Thanks for including the video – fun to see it again!
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My Dad was 45 when I was born the only girl. It think that make me special to him.
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It’s great when we have fond memories of those who are gone, but not forgotten. I “celebrated” my great aunt’s birthday on Tuesday ~ she would have been 123 this year.
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Ah so lucky to have known her. I don’t remember any from that generation on either side.
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Such memories! My father played that song too. Probably the only song he knew. Last I knew he had the accordion.
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Last I knew he had the accordion too. Not sure if he can play anymore.
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Great tribute.
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He was a great man. I know everyone says that about their dad but mine was so kind.
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I’m glad your memories are still vivid and make you smile. That’s a great picture.😊
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Thanks. I keep them alive in a special place in my heart.
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What a wonderful tribute to your father, Kate. I love the old photograph. The poor quality make it that much more special. I have memories of my parents watching The Lawrence Welk Show.
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My mother was a huge Lawrence Welk Show. It’s the heritage.
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