Today is Father's Day.
Pop would have been 94 if he was still "physically with us." Pop was born in 1919... and passed away in 1988.
He's probably spending today watching one of the golf tournaments on television. I hear they have some pretty nice recliners where he is. I also hear the cable reception is much better where he is than any of the available cable "down here."
For much of last night, and much of this morning, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about him. Actually... I think about him a lot more often than that.
Once again... I found myself on YOU TUBE. I was listening to some of the songs that were popular in the 1940′s… when my Dad was in his early 20′s and my Mom was two years younger than that.
There were so many great songs there… so many songs that surrounded Dad and Mom… way back then.
I was mostly listening to songs from WW2.
Pop was “over there” when I was born early in 1944. I have a letter that my Mom sent my Dad… showing him a picture of her holding lil ol’ me… newly born. How could you tell it was me she was holding? Well... that little baby was sticking its tongue out... so that about cinches the fact that it was me... LOL.
Almost all of the songs were sung by Vera Lynn. Two of them were… “You’ll Never Know” (Vera Lynn, 1943) and "When the Lights Go On Again” by Vera Lynn.
They were followed by Ms Lynn… who became Dame Vera Lynn… singing After The Rain, and We’ll Meet Again , and the incredible When I Grow Too Old to Dream. The list goes on and on and on. You get the picture.
And then I found an interview with Dame Vera: Dame Vera Lynn on GMTV. It was just simply amazing. You Tube… in many, many ways… almost makes the past “live again.”
All songs celebrated “the troops”… with the fervent hope and intent that they would someday return.
It’s quite ironic. The older I get, the more my Dad and his memory mean to me… and the more I realize just how much he went through to finally come home to me and my Mom as we waited for him in Cleveland.
Happy Father's Day, Pop. I miss you.
* * *
Karen Anne - your dad sounds like a wonderful person and I love the story of how you had your tongue out in the photo, LOL! Memories and music that remind us of our past love ones are what keep their spirit's alive. I'm sure your dad is thinking of you too. Thanks for sharing your story.
Kristine, thanks so much. Pop... like most folks... had two sides to his story. I think WWII had such a major effect on him. And yes... even at that tender age I was sticking my tongue out at the world. I was SO ahead of my time... LOL.
And you are very welcome about the sharing part. I think sharing helps our memories, and our hearts, come alive again.
I love the visual of you sticking your tongue out. LOL. Your memories are wonderful and in the true spirit of the day. I hope you have a great day. I'll call you soon. I've been thinking about you.
Debbie, I've been thinking about you as well... with all the blazing mountain forests in Colorado that we keep hearing about. I hope you are ok.
Yes, memories. Perhaps it might sound pitiful to some, but there comes a day and time in many lives when memories of times gone by become the majority of the energies that bring animation of any sort to our lives. At least to mine, these days.
Debbie... click on the "Originally posted at" link just below my post to see a picture of what I suppose my tongue and I might have looked like about nine years after my baby picture.
My Daddy was away when in was born too. Different time, different war, but still away. Aren't we both so blessed our daddies came home to us. How really cool that you have that letter.
Tammy: It surely IS cool that I have that letter. I found it in 1987 when I was going through my Mom's things right after she passed away.
As I alluded to, there are two sides to everyone... including Daddies... but yes... we were blessed that our Daddies were able to come home... and to be able to walk off that ship rather than be carried off.
Perhaps the letter, and the line about my tongue have helped some facets of my personality make some sense to you... LOL.
Karen Anne It is tough when Dad is gone .My Dad lives on in my heart. I miss him every day .We all miss our Dad's they are part of our hearts . I remember those songs my mom and dad listen to them .
Have a great day
Hannah
Karen Anne I'm quite sure your Dad is either watching or playing around of golf and enjoying it all! What a cool way to remember your Dad through music - very very touching!
Karen Anne, what a nice tribute to your father. I hope he's enjoying that heavenly recliner.
Karen Anne,
I still have my dad but miss my mom sorely I think as we getting older we realize just how much our parents did for us! I hope you have a great day!
A very fine tribute to your "Pop" Karen Anne on this fine Father's Day. And listening to the older 1940's music on YouTube I thought was a wonderful idea for you to do as well. You were a silly baby for sure with that tongue, having a mind of your own. Thanks for sharing all that background with us.
My father was also born in 1919 and is still going, though failing. Those Vera Lynn songs were my parents favorites too, including the Anniversary Waltz. I love those songs too.
I am so sorry that your dad is no longer with you. I can only guess how bad that can be.
Karen Anne, well, that was a nice trip you took on YouTube. Memories are quite amazing. What a nice tribute to your dad and your mom too.
Karen Ann, Sorry your dad is not with you today but it sounds like he is always close to you in thought! Have a great week.
Karen Ann, I miss my father too, he was born in 1930 ....it does not matter when they were born or when they left us the pain is the same, the lost conversations, the lost questions, the lost discussions.... Part of the right of passage!
Karen Anne - I spent a lot of time reflecting yesterday too. After reading your post, I find comfort knowing there are comfy recliners for our dads somewhere and golf tournaments too. My dad also would have liked that ...perhaps they are now buddies ....talking about their daughters who are real estate agents, and finding that they have a lot in common! :)
Karen Ann, so many of us have lost our Dads. My husband's dad was 97 when he passed last year. We also had the same music to listen to. He had all the big band CDs that he played on his Bose system. Now we have them. I love that music.
Listening to music of a specific era is the best for making us feel like we are there. Your father is with you in spirit. A lovely post.
My Dad would have turned 100 on June 2 and we had a memorial for him and all my siblings, grandchildren and great grandchildren came. It was beautiful.
Karen Anne, I know the feeling, I miss my Daddy, too. Good way to connect with those memories.
Karen Anne - I do the same time from time: go to YouTube and listen to Russian songs of the the war time. YyouTube is without borders, and it is amazing how easy it is now to dip into the times gone...
My mom was born in 1919, and she died in 1988, and she was 'over there' during the war...
Hi Karen Anne, What a lovely blog this is. Memories of your Dad and Mom, the music really brings it alive. Thanks for sharing. Hope all going super good for you! :)
Karen Anne, While you and your mother waited in Cleveland for your father to come home, Tom and his mother were in Cleveland doing the same. Tom was also born early in 1944, while his father was on the Lexington. His father passed away 13 years ago, just before his 76th birthday. Maybe he and your father are relaxing together, remembering their families and life in Cleveland and enjoying the great music of the era.
Hi Karen Ann-wishing you an easy surgery on your teeth and a speedy recovery.
Karen Anne, nice tribute to your "Pops". I'm stopping by via Debbie Laity's shout out to you and wishing you well with your upcoming surgeries.
Karen Anne - Your post is a real Chicken Soup for the Soul! What you did for Pops to keep him in your memory on Father's Day shows what a caring and loving daughter you always are.... nothing will keep him away from you as long as you have your memory.
It's a touching story and how you spent your time was just beautiful. You draw your strength from him - I can see that by how you write and have such fond memories. You're a beautiful lady Karen Anne and I pray all goes well for you. The next time you feel blue, look in the mirror and stick out your tongue - then laugh and have fun doing something special, just for you!
Good morning Karen Anne,
I love this tribute to your dad! Patricia in her words as only she can do stated how much we all enjoyed your touching story! I loved the songs you looked up and how you brought your memories close to you of your early childhood. Prayers are with you on your upcoming surgery!
Such a beautiful post, you brought tears to my eyes. It must have been quite the sentimental night surrounded by memories.
Lovely post Karen Anne. Your pop will always be a comforting presense in your life. How wonderful.
By the way, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish you swift healing...
I think we all miss our fathers. Mine was born in 1921 and is also gone.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Thoughts and prayers are coming your way.
Karen Anne: What a wonderful tribute to your dad. Mine was born in 1909 "over there". I was born in Germany, and we immigrated to Canada, and then I immigrated to the US. so now I am "over here." Incredible how life works.
I hope your good memories of your father are warming your heart up right now.
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Have an outstanding summer.
I always appreciate your comments on my blogs.
This is a wonderful tribute to your Dad. Thanks for sharing your memories. It brought tears to my eyes . I lost my father 2009 and Father's day was difficult for me.
Wishing you a speedy recovery .
Karen Anne, the Greatest Generation was also the Silent Generation. They didn't talk or moan about what they went through - and they went through a lot. This is a beautiful tribute to your Dad. Happy 4th and wishing you well.
Karen Ann - I am fascinated how long the blogs work some time. I see comments after over 2 weeks. But maybe it is because you did not submit posts after it, and people follow you, so they comment on "old" post...
Hope you are feeling OK.
GOOD MORNING KAREN ANNE! Makes me want to go home and spend some time with my dad - while I can. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with all of us about your Pops.
Beautiful testament to your father :)
Karen Anne -- Wow, I read this and there were so many similarities between your 'pop' and my dad. Same age, WWII, music... I have to hit You Tube myself to listen to some of his favs from the big band era. Thanks for a lovely story.
Thinking of you always! My prayers are with you Karen Anne.
Karen Anne,
Just stopped by to say hello, Bob and I were thinking of you on our trip and I told him I needed to stop by and say hello; the Patricia reminded me of what is going on with you! Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. If you need to talk just give a shout out!
Patricia, Yolanda and everyone: Update to the Update:
Thanks for your kindness and concern. My first surgery will finally be on Friday, July 19 at 11:00am. My last phone call from my "darling" daughter was on May 8th... the day before my cardiac catheterization.
Surgery #1 will be at JPS in Fort Worth... and only because my only insurance, Medicare, does not cover it... but John Peter Smith... will cover it.
Once I heal to a decent degree from that surgery, I will be having my aortic valve replacement, and now I'm told... for some "additional work" involving the part of my heart called the atrium.
My guess is that surgery #2 will be perhaps ten to fourteen days after surgery #1, which puts it perhaps in the first week of August.
My surgeon intends to actually amputate a small portion of the atrium that is helping to cause the craziness of my heart beat when not on medication.
Just as an additional update, today I went to Kroger as I needed some groceries. I had to stop five or six times to rest and catch my breath while going through the store selecting my groceries. This is the worst it has been since they put me on my medication.
Again... thanks so much for caring.
Karen Ann,
Great tribute to your dad and he was part of the Great generation that made sure the rest of us could live like we do today. thank you Lord for all those folks. My dad was about the same age as your dad. I relate to missing and thinking about dad more and more the older we all get.
How did your medical procedure turn out?
Karen, thanks for the memories. I miss my dad, too.
And I am praying for your speedy recovery.
KarenAnne, I also wrote a post on Father's Day...both my parents are gone now...but the memories are forever...when I get together with my ten siblings we talk talk talk talk about our parents and our memories. So much fun!
Hi KarenAnne,
I missed my dad this year deeply and remembered all of the wonderful years together as he lived to be 86 years old. I was lucky to have him that long and my daughter had him until she was 12 years but she thought it was unfair. It is hard to let them go but when quality of life becomes bad, it is time for them to pass on.
I love all the songs you posted and they are some of my favorites. My mother loved to sing all those songs so I grew up knowing the words for so many songs. I was born in the 50's but like the WWII songs.
Karen Anne thank you for sharing this beautiful story about your dad. His generation was definitely "the best generation." My dad was also of the same generation and a WWII pilot.
Hi Karen, thanks for sharing. Families are important. Dads are special. I lost mine 9 years ago. I read about your surgeries and it sounded like you're recovering well. May you be strengthened daily, and wishing you all the best for the 2nd surgery.
Good Evening, Karen. I am just dropping by to say hello and to see how you are doing. Praying for a speedy recovery!!
Karen Anne - Just dropping by to wish you a speedy recovery. I am praying for you. It was great to talk to you a few weeks ago. Stay strong.
Robert: I don't know what we as Americans would have done if it weren't for our Fathers' (and Mother's) generation.
My "procedure"... my oral surgery, they tell me it went well. It was done last Friday, and I have an appointment with them tomorrow, Friday July 26th, for an update.
Mary: Yes, memories. And yes, I miss my Dad as well. I am grateful for your kind thoughts and prayers.
Kay: I just love your hubby calling you "Mildred." What a great name for a Mom to have in their generation. I have known several other "Mildred's" from their generation, but it's a name that has fallen out of favor, I fear.
Rebecca: Wow... ten siblings. I bet that is quite a get-together. I bet you folks could talk forever. What a blessing.
Kristin: Those songs have always been a part of my memory base. My Mom played them all the time back in the forties and fifties when I was growing up. I was born in 1944.
Silvia: My Dad would be 95 this coming January. Luckily we shared a lot until he passed in 1988. Some bad, but much more good. Wow... 95 years old.
Recovery for me? Some days I really wonder. I have my oral surgery follow-up tomorrow morning at the Oral Surgery Clinic at the hospital. If they clear me, and if my cardiac surgeon agrees, then it's on to my Aortic Valve Replacement. Honestly, some days I really, really wonder if I will make it through.
Sherry: You are welcome. I really hope folks understand my lack of responding. I have been so overwhelmed by all of this.
Again... recovering? It is a major struggle. Most days I cannot get enough sleep. I just feel so "drained." Thank you for your kind thoughts and wishes. Depending on my appointment tomorrow, my aortic valve surgery should be fairly soon. It just all depends.
Joni: I appreciate your prayers. A speedy recovery? I am just hoping to recover... period. And honestly, most days I really wonder. Thank you again for your kind thoughts. I wonder. Do they have a good cardiac hospital in Wasilla? <silly smile>
Patricia: I enjoyed talking with you a few weeks ago as well. A speedy recovery? Well, right now I will be happy with any sort of recovery my surgeons, nurses and team can bring. I so appreciate your thoughts and prayers. I really, really need them. Take care.
Good morning Karen -
Touching base to see how you are doing and making sure all went well during your surgery. Our grandson had his big surgery as well and he's now home and in recovery mode. It left him with a bad attitude which we hope will pass when he comes off many of the medications. Take care my friend.
Jon in #44: I think part of the reason some of my blog posts last so long is that my regular readers know that if the topic is right, a dialogue might develop not only between myself and those who comment, but in between themselves as well... which they are encouraged to do. So... they come back... sometimes after quite a while.
And, this particular post has also turned into a bit of a medical update in itself.
I am sure it is also partially due to the "space" between my posts. I no longer hustle to get a post completed before the week is up to make sure I get in my allowed ten posts. I quite doing that about two years ago. Much less pressure.
Karen Anne - You must be coming up on your August surgery - I had no idea that you were going through such difficult times. I have been too busy to be on AR as much as i should, and missed it all. Glad to see your comment tonight, which made me check out your post. (Which was awesome, by the way!)
Best of luck in the surgery, and I will definitely be checking up on you this time afterwards - so leave some comments for us all!
Hugs
Dagny
Dagny, thank you so much for your kind thoughts. My heart surgery will be on Wednesday, August 14th... and I am absolutely petrified. I've been finding it very difficult to sleep most nights. Just thinking about it makes me crazy. Crazier... actually. It just saps any energy I have left. I just love breaking out in tears for no apparent reason at all... LOL. It is simply exhausting.
I know I am being a big baby about it. There are so many folks who have much bigger burdens. I wish I was handling this better. Again, thanks for your kind thoughts... and glad you enjoyed the post about my Pop.
Note: Tomorrow, August 14, 2013 is my Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery. Here is my Medical update. I must be at the hospital at 6:00am... with surgery to be performed at 7:15am. They tell me it will take just under five hours.
Last Medical Update Before Surgery Tomorrow, August 14, 2013.... Thank you in advance for reading it.
Karen...I do not even know if you are alive or not...if you are...please come back to AR!!
Karen
Thanks for sharing your "pop" story.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
I really wish someone could tell us what happened to Karen Anne Stone. So many people miss her in the Rain. It would be at least some comfort to know where she is.
Helping to push you over the million points mark Karen!
Wishing you a speedy recovery Karen and your post really resonates for me - I miss my mom but so grateful to have memories.
Here's to putting her over the million mark I sure hope someone ginds a way to find her.
I very much both you and my father Karen Anne Stone! I hope that you are well and plan to return to us some day!
Hi Karen Anne Stone,
We miss you too and hope to hear from you again. We are all waiting to hear you are recuperating.
Happy Fathers Day. I hope you and your family have a blessed day.
Karen Anne Stone This post is a timeless and a true classic. My father passed last year a couple weeks before Father's Day and I read it then wishing I could write something as beautiful about him. Your truly have a gift for writing.
I hope you will reach out one day to let us know how and what you are doing.
You'll be with your Dad on Father's Day in 2017, sitting beside him in a comfy recliner, listening to old songs and remembering wonderful times.