From Shirley's Cottage
Dads and Grandpas
I Love Lucy and Little House on the Prairie are not the only things I watch on television. There are times I am more cerebral. On Sunday mornings for example. I have watched Meet the Press for as many years as I can remember. Tim Russet has been the moderator since the early 90's.
Tim Russet died suddenly on Friday the 13th, two days before Father’s Day. The story ran non-stop on all the news channels, the Today Show, etc.
His journalistic achievements have been explored. But mostly the they talked about him as a father and a son.
He wrote a best-selling book about his father, "Big Russ". A relationship in which his father, like most fathers then, did not show affection, in words or hugs. But Tim knew his father loved him, and their relationship was grounded in love and respect.
He said his book was really written for his son. Unlike his father, he was a father who was quick with the hugs and "I love you, son."
Hearing the sad news, especially on the Father’s Day week-end made me think of the fathers in our own family.
I have a dad, but he is now memories and a few dreams. My kids have a dad Ditto.
We hope they are playing poker and having a beer with Gram on a cloud somewhere.
I silently say Happy Father’s Day to them and call my son and my son-in-law and tell them what good dads they are.
Funny, when I heard about Tim Russet, my first thoughts were not of my dad, but of my grandpa, my mom’s dad.
He was a cop. A tall, proud, handsome guy with curly blonde hair and brown eyes. He had a soft heart and a soft hand. As a police captain he could be tough. As a dad and grandpa, he never was.
As a child, I remember him coming over to visit on Saturday mornings. He would play with my sister and me. Then sit and have coffee with his oldest daughter. Before he left he would always say "Don’t tell I came to visit. Let it be our secret, ok?" (My grandma was not your typical mom-she ruled the roost, and was jealous of anything that did not involve her)
. When he left on those Saturdays, he would lift my mom off the floor with a bear hug, and an "I love you" to us all.
Thank goodness Mom took after her dad. From her blonde hair to her big brown eyes to the love she had for her family, she was Tony the cop all over again.
My dad’s dad was a product of the old country. He came from Lithuania as a young man. He had the work ethic instilled in him. I can’t remember him giving a hug or saying "I love you". Not even in his native tongue.
He was a factory worker who never missed a day of work. And then a tavern owner, who built the building with scrap materials with his son, and opened his business without help from government or anyone else. The only affection I remember was having to kiss him on the cheek.
He did not love us less. That was his way. The way he was raised. He did not love us less. His legacy was the hard work he did.
My dad and my kids’ dad were a combination of so many traditions and emotions that made them the dads they were. Those are stories for the next Father’s Day.
I know last week was Father’s Day. I didn’t remember until we went to press. So a week late, but sincerely, I hope all dad’s and their loved ones had a good day.
And all those dad who have left us are remembered with good memories and lots of love.
This salad was on a cooking show this week. Just right for a cook-out. I know two dads in our family who would like this. I hope so. I’m making it this week-end.
Five Ingredient Salad from the Cooking Channel
you will need:
one seedless cucumber, sliced thin, unfelled
one small can mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 cup chopped mint (I might try chives or another herb instead)
3-4 red wine vinegar
1 T olive
Mix the cucumber, oranges and mint
add the vinegar and olive oil
Toss
Serve with a good burger or brat
Enjoy
I Love Lucy and Little House on the Prairie are not the only things I watch on television. There are times I am more cerebral. On Sunday mornings for example. I have watched Meet the Press for as many years as I can remember. Tim Russet has been the moderator since the early 90's.
Tim Russet died suddenly on Friday the 13th, two days before Father’s Day. The story ran non-stop on all the news channels, the Today Show, etc.
His journalistic achievements have been explored. But mostly the they talked about him as a father and a son.
He wrote a best-selling book about his father, "Big Russ". A relationship in which his father, like most fathers then, did not show affection, in words or hugs. But Tim knew his father loved him, and their relationship was grounded in love and respect.
He said his book was really written for his son. Unlike his father, he was a father who was quick with the hugs and "I love you, son."
Hearing the sad news, especially on the Father’s Day week-end made me think of the fathers in our own family.
I have a dad, but he is now memories and a few dreams. My kids have a dad Ditto.
We hope they are playing poker and having a beer with Gram on a cloud somewhere.
I silently say Happy Father’s Day to them and call my son and my son-in-law and tell them what good dads they are.
Funny, when I heard about Tim Russet, my first thoughts were not of my dad, but of my grandpa, my mom’s dad.
He was a cop. A tall, proud, handsome guy with curly blonde hair and brown eyes. He had a soft heart and a soft hand. As a police captain he could be tough. As a dad and grandpa, he never was.
As a child, I remember him coming over to visit on Saturday mornings. He would play with my sister and me. Then sit and have coffee with his oldest daughter. Before he left he would always say "Don’t tell I came to visit. Let it be our secret, ok?" (My grandma was not your typical mom-she ruled the roost, and was jealous of anything that did not involve her)
. When he left on those Saturdays, he would lift my mom off the floor with a bear hug, and an "I love you" to us all.
Thank goodness Mom took after her dad. From her blonde hair to her big brown eyes to the love she had for her family, she was Tony the cop all over again.
My dad’s dad was a product of the old country. He came from Lithuania as a young man. He had the work ethic instilled in him. I can’t remember him giving a hug or saying "I love you". Not even in his native tongue.
He was a factory worker who never missed a day of work. And then a tavern owner, who built the building with scrap materials with his son, and opened his business without help from government or anyone else. The only affection I remember was having to kiss him on the cheek.
He did not love us less. That was his way. The way he was raised. He did not love us less. His legacy was the hard work he did.
My dad and my kids’ dad were a combination of so many traditions and emotions that made them the dads they were. Those are stories for the next Father’s Day.
I know last week was Father’s Day. I didn’t remember until we went to press. So a week late, but sincerely, I hope all dad’s and their loved ones had a good day.
And all those dad who have left us are remembered with good memories and lots of love.
This salad was on a cooking show this week. Just right for a cook-out. I know two dads in our family who would like this. I hope so. I’m making it this week-end.
Five Ingredient Salad from the Cooking Channel
you will need:
one seedless cucumber, sliced thin, unfelled
one small can mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 cup chopped mint (I might try chives or another herb instead)
3-4 red wine vinegar
1 T olive
Mix the cucumber, oranges and mint
add the vinegar and olive oil
Toss
Serve with a good burger or brat
Enjoy
posted by Shirley | 6:45 PM
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