Day 43, "Every picture has a story"
Again, two pictures today. I think besides the story behind this there is an interesting piece of history connected to the generation of my Dad. First the story. When I was growing up Dad and his Lee cousins were in a bowling league in Rutland ND. I think the Lee cousins were George and Harold and then there was brother Halver. I never watched them bowl but I think they were among the best in the league. I know from bowling with Dad a few times he had a nice smooth curve to his ball and there are stories of Halver throwing it so hard the pins were afraid as the ball, straight as an arrow, barreled towards them. Anyway the side story to this is that building where the bowl lanes were is now a bar/cafe. On to the picture story. Dad was not one to give things as he must have felt that giving was not the right thing to do. He sold me the model 12 shotgun and he traded the Diamondback for a deer rifle but give, no way. I do think/know that in his old age he did give some firearms away to people. I should add that the time I drove up to talk to him after Mom died, in a gesture of disgust and anger, he gave me a couple of things but that was a totally different situation. Anyway maybe in about 1985 or so when he came down to visit for a short time he gave me this bowling ball with my name on one side and a greeting on the other. I did have fun using it many times but really never was serious as Dad was. I did agree to be a sub on our school teachers team one time and as luck would have it I happen to roll 2 very good games. That put my handicap so high that I was never asked to sub again because they knew that it was a fluke and if I subbed again I would hurt the team. At least that is my story and I am sticking to it! If anyone is really interested for me a poor score would have been 135/145, an average would maybe have been around 160/180 and a great score (it happened a couple of times) would have been 220/240!!! Anyway my bowling days are long gone but for me and for many the memories are vivid. Now to the generation thing. If one noticed how Dad signed off he said, "Happy bowling." I think I and my generation would have used the word love but not way back then. I am not saying Dad did not love me I am just saying it is a generation thing for sure.
We received a scant bit or rain yesterday along with much thunder and lighting. I think it was enough so that I need not water today. As I write it is sunny and still with a temp of about 70.
I don't know if I have been lazy or what but I have not been on my bike for a couple of days. Maybe today but really not sure. I have NO excuses.
The demolition of the stairs going up to the second floor started yesterday and as one can guess it immediately become MUCH more complicated than I expected. A few days project may end up being MORE I am afraid. Terry got the risers all primed so she got more done than I. The first 5 boards that I pulled had a total of 40 nails. I don't think the stairs were in danger of falling apart BUT those 40 nails, after 112 years, certainly let you know when you climbed the stairs!!! Travis thinks if their ends up being stairs that do not creak it will be a miracle. You know what, he may have hit the nail on the head.
I received a note from John, our neighbor in Naples that his unit finally sold. He had it listed for about 8 months or so. He ended up selling it for around $50,000 less than it was listed for to start with but he may recover a tiny bit of that which is a long story. Who ever purchased it got a good deal. Being a citizen of Canada if he had owned it when he died his family would have been required to pay MUCH in taxes So that is the reason he sold.
After I take my last sip of FP I am going to post a picture of my house taken in the early 1900s. We got a copy of it from the state historical society and it is interesting. When my house was built in 1906 it was built in the middle of the country! Of course now within a 2 block area there are about 120 houses. How is that for progress. Well it is 112 years ago so what would one expect. Enough, the FP is gone so here is the picture.
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