Happy Fathers Day!
Sunday, June 19th, 2011Happy Fathers Day to my Dad who will probably never read this because I’m still very proud of him for being able to turn a computer on and fumble his way around a cell phone.
My dad is the infamous Calvin Himes (chimes sr.). Who, up until recently, drove around in a little yellow 1989 Ford Festiva with lightening bolts on the side. Everybody in town (Monticello — around 3500 people) knew that as the Calvinmobile.
In his lifetime he’s run more miles than I probably ever will — and he had to quit running when he was 45 because of knee surgery. Which ultimately inspired me to keep running further, although much, MUCH slower. And resulted in my running a marathon*. My half marathon PR is 1:46, my dads: 1:08 — or so he claims. It seems that his race times keep getting faster and faster each time I’ve asked over the years.
My dad is also a hardcore underdog sports team fan. Chicago Bears and the San Francisco Giants. Although, writing this post this year doesn’t do those teams as much justice as far as their underdog status goes. Either way, I would have to say that at least 90% of my dad’s wardrobe is orange and navy.
Mom scanned some oldies in for me, so I thought I would share.
Dad and me at Wacky Waters probably in 1986
Dad and me playing in my kiddie pool outside our trailor, also probably 1986. Look at those amazing shorts. And my amazing haircut (thanks MOM!)
The dadstache — not as awesome when not paired with the redfro that went with it before I was born (mom couldn’t find any of those). This was in 1988 when my sister was born. Again, thanks, mom, for the haircut. When the heck did I have straight hair?!
And since everybody was posting photos of their dads on Facebook, I took this ample opportunity to steal a lovely photo of both sets of my grandparents from my mom and my aunt.
Below is my dad’s parents. I don’t know whose wedding this was at (mom and Dad or my aunt Sheila’s most likely judging by the attire). Both of them have long passed away — my grandma in 1991 and my grandpa in 2006. But we still make my grandma’s recipe for sugar cookies every year. She had the best frosted sugar cookies. And come to think of it, I’m guessing that’s where my sweet tooth comes from. I have a recipe book that my aunt Sheila put together and it’s like 35 pages and it’s all desserts, cookies, bars and frostings. Six pages of frostings alone! Which is probably why there is a small container of frosting in the freezer RIGHT NOW that I whipped up to have a spoonful of when I need a sugar fix.
My mom’s parents — who are both still around, but my grandma is only sometimes around. She’s got Alzheimers and has been in a senior community for a few years now. Sometimes she’s still able to hold a conversation, but doesn’t understand much, but other times it’s like she’s long gone. It’s been really hard to watch, and I wouldn’t wish Alzheimers on anybody. Which is another reason I’m such a health freak — trying to stave off brain issues as well as health issues that run on both sides of my family.
I think this photo must have been from the mid-eighties — judging by the awesome glasses.
*which, btw, I’m thinking of walking one to see if I can beat my run time because I was injured and I ended up with an embarrassing 13.5ish mile pace. Which is my walk speed.
