Friday, October 10, 2008

Photo Phun Phriday


I love this picture(s) of a time gone by . . . 1941, I believe, the Georgia Military Academy.




The fellow on the left is my husband's father, Teddy. Teddy's father was a Navy Officer and was on tour much of the time. Thus my husband's father was enrolled in the Georgia Military Academy boarding school, what would later became the Woodward Academy. He graduated from high school and headed straight to college to graduate as an Engineer.


I never got to meet him, he passed away more than a decade before Will and I met.


It sounds as if he was your typical man raised in the 40's and 50's - hard working, probably away from home more than he could have been, but actively pursuing the American Dream kind of guy. He was a planner, a little of a risk taker, and jack of all trades . . .


With the economic crisis we, as a country, are encountering, my husband has enjoyed telling of a time when his dad did what he had to do during a financially rough spell - his dad took a second job. The second job? Delivering Port-o-lets. Will remembers being on the school bus and looking out the window and seeing his dad coming down the street, coming along in the family station wagon with a trailer and the facility on its way to be delivered.


It was viewed upon with pride. I love the story. So many today believe they are entitled to the best jobs . . .best pay. . . owning their own home, no matter what. This is a glimpse into a time when reality was, you did what you did, and you were proud and thankful for the opportunity.


I see the stories of him in his children - in my sister in laws, in my husband and in my mother in law. I see in this family, that I married into, faith, courage, INTELLIGENCE, fiestiness, and determination that was passed to them by both their mom and dad. I see in my mother in law a woman who raised her kids, and now still lives a full life. She loved her husband and he loved her and helped to make the life she lives now possible.






I hate that I did not get to know him first hand . . .but his presence is still "present" in the stories they tell.




















14 comments:

Ronda's Rants said...

I love this picture and the story...we Americans can do this...we have been through worse!

Jan said...

I am so confident too. I love these wonderful pictures. I know that alot of sacrifice has gone into what this country is about. I know that we have that same spirit in us to continue to uphold the values that we love. :)

Lavender n Lattés said...

Hello fellow SITsta! That was such a good post -- love your blog!

larkswing said...

I agree too . . .we can do this. It might require the news being turned off . . .

Maybe we should have bloggy victory garden with stories of american grit, kindness shown now and in the past, inspiring stories, the little signs of hope that ARE all around us . . .

Anonymous said...

Those photos are so cute!

What an inspirational post for the tough times we seem to be entering into.

Susie said...

Those are great historical pictures!

Outnumbered2to1 said...

What a beautiful tribute to your fil.

Nancy said...

oh wow - those pictures are so neat! What a history :)

I have to like the second one a little bit more ;)

Anonymous said...

What a great picture and story.. I love pictures of yesteryear..

I am very confident too..

@TiffanyRom said...

What a great post.. those pics are amazing... how nice to know so much family history.

Danyele Easterhaus said...

those pics just show "teddy's" personality. so much fun. i didn't get to meet my hubby's grandpa either and it makes me sad since he was such a great man.

oh, thanks for stopping by today...to share a little adoption love

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Loved the pics and the story. Today is my first visit to your site, and I'm really enjoying your posts.

Tara said...

Oh my gosh! those are so amazing...I LOVE pictures from the past. Beautiful...what a story. Thanks for sharing...and thank you for dropping by my blog!!

Rhonda said...

What a beautiful tribute to your father in law. Love the pictures.