Yesterday was the birth date of my brother Bill Wood as indicated in my little red book. It brings back a flood of memories dating way back to the edge of my memory when he was in technical school, bridges the times when he bought his first car (1936) Plymouth, served in the merchant marines (very danger filled war zones), married, children, vacations to Hermit Island, hunting together, assistant sales person to my senior brother at Sun Electric, purchase and reconstruction of his cottage, crystal lake swims,, Florida, etc.
Many of these things I have recounted in past years. It is your turn now to walk us down memory lane.
Bill was my grandfather--Dani and I called him Pa. I remember waiting on the playground in pre-school for him and Marnie to come pick me up in their giant Grand Marquis sedan. They drove us to Blue Springs and everywhere else in that car, and I will forever associate NPR's classical music with hot blue plush seats and swimming suits. Pa was an impressive and intimidating figure on the playground--bigger and stronger than anyone else's grandpa, he could pick me up and carry me around on his shoulders, to the general awe of those assembled.
I remember his vast garden at the cottage by Crystal Lake, and the radio in the cellar jury-rigged to play talk radio whenever the light was clicked on. There was an old steel rotary mower that no one else could push for more than a few feet, and shelves of mixed nut containers full of nails and bolts, and rows and drawers of heavy tools. Back in Florida, Pa constructed stilts for Dani and me one summer, and we spent much of our free time after that leaving square dents in the lawn as we stomped around like giants.
Pa took me fishing on Crystal Lake a few times, standing on the edge of the fearsomely squeaky dock, and explaining the inner workings of the freshwater mollusks covering the lake bed. He taught us a Scottish prayer that remains the only link to that part of my heritage that I'm really aware of. He always made sausages in the morning, a treat that I looked forward to as much as Marnie's special butterscotch pudding. He taught me how to haggle at the flea market, and how to get into cold water (just dive headfirst).
He always had an air of relaxed good humor, and a love of wildlife and common sense that stays with me today. I wish I'd had more time with him.
Father was a handsome man with a zest for life. Bill loved wild natural places and was at home in the woods, rivers, lakes, mountains, and ocean. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and cooking his catch with vegtables cultivated from his garden. Whenever he moved, he brought some of his garden soil with him. Childhood is a magical fleeting time. Dad encouraged and created experiences for kids to be kids. There were adventures and family fun balanced with chores. In the early fifties, there were few independent role models for girls. Dad outfitted my sister and me with Annie Oakley outfits complete with toy holstered guns. We "packed heat" on the streets of South Boston. My friends told me how fortunate I was to have a character like Bill as a parent. The Bill as "broke the mold" stories were well known in our family. Attending an out of state party of mostly airline people, I was surprised to hear the hostess relating tales of a likeable NH eccentric. Of course I never let on that I knew the man. Even out of the country, Bill inspired a song. While vacationing in Peru, he reached into his short's pocket to retrieve some coins for the trolly fare. His shorts fell to his ankles embarassing my mother. The next day, my mother was listening to some street muscians. She asked what the song was about. "Oh, it is about this big American guy boarding the bus. His pants fall to his ankles exposing all." was the reply. I think of Dad often. Pa's spirt/essence remains with me as I hike the mountains, swim the lakes, and ski the slopes. Daughter Joan
Well you illustrious descendants of Jeannie and Andrew Wood I have a little question for you today. What makes today special in our family? There may be more then one answer but I have a particular one in mind which I will share with you in the following email but for now see if you can figure it out before turning to the answer. > > > > Morfar, Dad, Uncle Doug, me > Thank you for the family stories and here is yet another one. The other reason Shared by Donna Pepin on January 24, 2011
Today is a special day is because my Father, Bill Wood, decided to leave this earthly existence on his sister's birthday and join her and his mother, Father and other family members. What I thought was an amazing co-incidence, I now see often in my job as a hospice nurse. The week my Father died, it had already been planned, well in advance, that his sister and husband (Peggy and Wilhelm) would be visiting as well as his daughter Joan. They all arrived to find him in the hospital. From what I understand, there was hugging, singing and great exchanges of love. What had also been planned far in advance was that his son Bill would visit when he was needed most, just before my Mother's first birthday, in a long time, with out her husband (2-2-02). I love these family stories and celebrations! Love, Mom/Donna
Yesterday was the birth date of my brother Bill Wood as indicated in my little red book. It brings back a flood of memories dating way back to the edge of my memory when he was in technical school, bridges the times when he bought his first car (1936) Plymouth, served in the merchant marines (very danger filled war zones), married, children, vacations to Hermit Island, hunting together, assistant sales person to my senior brother at Sun Electric, purchase and reconstruction of his cottage, crystal lake swims,, Florida, etc.
ReplyDeleteMany of these things I have recounted in past years. It is your turn now to walk us down memory lane.
From Jeannette March 21, 2011
ReplyDeleteBill was my grandfather--Dani and I called him Pa. I remember waiting on the playground in pre-school for him and Marnie to come pick me up in their giant Grand Marquis sedan. They drove us to Blue Springs and everywhere else in that car, and I will forever associate NPR's classical music with hot blue plush seats and swimming suits. Pa was an impressive and intimidating figure on the playground--bigger and stronger than anyone else's grandpa, he could pick me up and carry me around on his shoulders, to the general awe of those assembled.
I remember his vast garden at the cottage by Crystal Lake, and the radio in the cellar jury-rigged to play talk radio whenever the light was clicked on. There was an old steel rotary mower that no one else could push for more than a few feet, and shelves of mixed nut containers full of nails and bolts, and rows and drawers of heavy tools. Back in Florida, Pa constructed stilts for Dani and me one summer, and we spent much of our free time after that leaving square dents in the lawn as we stomped around like giants.
Pa took me fishing on Crystal Lake a few times, standing on the edge of the fearsomely squeaky dock, and explaining the inner workings of the freshwater mollusks covering the lake bed. He taught us a Scottish prayer that remains the only link to that part of my heritage that I'm really aware of. He always made sausages in the morning, a treat that I looked forward to as much as Marnie's special butterscotch pudding. He taught me how to haggle at the flea market, and how to get into cold water (just dive headfirst).
He always had an air of relaxed good humor, and a love of wildlife and common sense that stays with me today. I wish I'd had more time with him.
love,
Jeannette
Father was a handsome man with a zest for life. Bill loved wild natural places and was at home in the woods, rivers, lakes, mountains, and ocean. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and cooking his catch with vegtables cultivated from his garden. Whenever he moved, he brought some of his garden soil with him.
ReplyDeleteChildhood is a magical fleeting time. Dad encouraged and created experiences for kids to be kids. There were adventures and family fun balanced with chores.
In the early fifties, there were few independent role models for girls. Dad outfitted my sister and me with Annie Oakley outfits complete with toy holstered guns. We "packed heat" on the streets of South Boston. My friends told me how fortunate I was to have a character like Bill as a parent.
The Bill as "broke the mold" stories were well known in our family. Attending an out of state party of mostly airline people, I was surprised to hear the hostess relating tales of a likeable NH eccentric. Of course I never let on that I knew the man.
Even out of the country, Bill inspired a song. While vacationing in Peru, he reached into his short's pocket to retrieve some coins for the trolly fare. His shorts fell to his ankles embarassing my mother. The next day, my mother was listening to some street muscians. She asked what the song was about. "Oh, it is about this big American guy boarding the bus. His pants fall to his ankles exposing all." was the reply.
I think of Dad often. Pa's spirt/essence remains with me as I hike the mountains, swim the lakes, and ski the slopes. Daughter Joan
Well you illustrious descendants of Jeannie and Andrew Wood I have a little question for you today. What makes today special in our family? There may be more then one answer but I have a particular one in mind which I will share with you in the following email but for now see if you can figure it out before turning to the answer.
ReplyDelete>
>
>
> Morfar, Dad, Uncle Doug, me
> Thank you for the family stories and here is yet another one. The other reason Shared by Donna Pepin on January 24, 2011
Today is a special day is because my Father, Bill Wood, decided to leave this earthly existence on his sister's birthday and join her and his mother, Father and other family members. What I thought was an amazing co-incidence, I now see often in my job as a hospice nurse. The week my Father died, it had already been planned, well in advance, that his sister and husband (Peggy and Wilhelm) would be visiting as well as his daughter Joan. They all arrived to find him in the hospital. From what I understand, there was hugging, singing and great exchanges of love. What had also been planned far in advance was that his son Bill would visit when he was needed most, just before my Mother's first birthday, in a long time, with out her husband (2-2-02).
I love these family stories and celebrations!
Love, Mom/Donna