I was going to write this story for Father's Day. It's a memory of my Dad and me.
I am the oldest of four children. My sister Kathi, my brother Ken and my little sis Jodi grew up together in a busy household. It was rare that I had my Dad or my Mom to myself after the siblings were born. I don't remember a time as an only child. I guess I never really thought about time alone with my parents because we felt the love as a family unit. Now kids need one on one time and helicopter parents.
I am blessed with so many wonderful memories of our family. Saturday yard work, camping trips, road trips, extended family gathering, Sunday morning church and Sunday dinner, holiday picnics, Christmas, pets, good food, hard work and New Year traditions. The list of our good memories is long and fun to think about, especially now that my parents are gone.
That said, there was that one time I was on my own with my Dad. I don't have any photos of the day at Birch Bay but it's clear as can be in my mind.
One of my earliest memories, I'm guessing I was 3- 4 years old, was at Birch Bay. My folks rented a cabin with friends. A lot of friends in a little cabin. Bill and Janice and their kids, Don and Sandy and their kids, Uncle Ed and Aunt Twyla and their kids. Now when people mention that they have a cabin it usually means they have a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house in the woods or at the bay. Back in the early 60's, a cabin meant a cabin!
It took two pick up trips to get all of the baby bassinets, high chairs, strollers, trikes and play pens to the bay. Now baby gear folds down for travel. No nanny taken along either, just Aunts Clarice, Nelda and Judy coming to stay in the evening so the parents could have a night out.
There wasn't paid vacation for the dads and honestly they probably wanted to go to work during the day because it was a little crazy. Toddlers and babies, Gary was the only one older than me. The moms made a big breakfast, sent the guys off to work with their packed lunches and then drank coffee and played pinochle. In the afternoon we went to the beach. The Dads came home, drank beer and grilled dinner. They had Saturday with us and then we packed up and went home.
One morning we ran out of milk so it was decided everyone would walk to the Birch Bay Market. I rode my green (with red fenders) tricycle on the path. This is the trike pictured below which eventually was ruined when the Fuller Brush man rode over it with his black Rambler.
That's another story.
It was fun and exciting to have someplace to ride. We got to the store and the moms decided the kids could pick out a tootsie roll pop. They were in a stand on the counter, where you could order fountain drinks. I wanted cherry. Either Gary, Terri, Kathi, Ricky, Mike or Linda got the last cherry. I was given orange.
I was probably very tired. It was the end of the week and sleeping conditions with all toddlers and babies in one area wasn't conducive to sleep. I was past the age of taking regular naps.
What happened next was a total, full on, melt down,
It is a vivid memory of me pedaling and crying and screaming all of the way back to the cabin. I don't remember getting a spanking but I may have and I deserved one. We got back to the cabin and I was put in bed, my tootsie roll pop was set on waxed paper for later.
When I woke up my Dad was there. In the afternoon! Everyone else was at the beach. At that time you could leave your kids napping in the cabin while you went to the beach. Don't judge my Mom, it was a different time.
It's so vivid what my Dad did next. He asked why I was there. I can remember feeling ashamed that I had behaved so badly and had to take a nap but I told him everything. He said, "let's go." We got into the pink Mercury instead of going to the beach. He drove to the drive in at Birch Bay. Without asking me what I wanted, he ordered for us. He ordered banana splits! This was crazy. My Mom only ever let us get a kid's size vanilla cone. When we went to the drive in for dinner we could get a burger and a coke or a shake and fries. The end. There was no negotiating.
He popped down the glove box and set that banana split down for me. We enjoyed our ice cream and then went to the beach. My Mom was surprised to see us. We had our Dad for an afternoon on the beach. Not only did I get the banana split but the heavy plastic boat it was served in. Ooh, the other kids were jealous. The boat was something new and cool to dig with in the sand.
The memory is so clear for me as a four year old. I can remember what I was wearing, it was a navy sun suit with white smocking on the bodice and at the waist. I can remember the windows down in the pink Mercury and my Dad's arm out the window. I remember pure joy on my Mom's face when she saw my Dad show up unexpectedly. The morning's incident was over, all was forgiven.
I am so grateful for the grace I was given that day. I had been a brat, I was disciplined and forgiven and loved. My Dad and Mom parented with grace and love and some fun and treats. They treated us like they treated each other, using the love of their heavenly Father as a guide. I sure miss my folks.
