Give Thanks...Ties Of My Father

 It's not that my mom threw away all my father's things after he passed away...she just put them in the basement.

Including this tie.

My parents lived through the Great Depression. My mom was born a couple of years after it began, but my father...he became a teenager before it was over. They saved everything. My dad built a huge house, considering the time. I didn't realize just how big it was until later. But inside, half of it wasn't finished when he passed away, just unfinished rooms full of stuff.

Including a lot of ties.

The tie I wore to church today was my father's. I believe he worked as a park ranger at Mt Rushmore for a summer, at least, that's what I was told. That's where he picked up this incredible tie. I took it on my mission--my mission president hated it. Most of the ties I inherited are skinny ties from the 1960s. I wore some of them on my mission, too.

It's Father's Day. I can't remember giving my father anything for Father's Day. I'm sure I did--my mom would have made us make something for him. I just don't remember. The joke is buying your dad a tie for Father's Day. Now, fewer people than ever wear ties. I'm thankful my mom didn't throw them out those many years ago. I'm glad I can wear a tie, not given to me by my kids...

But, by my dad.

These Shoes Were Made For Walking...And Hiking And Mudding And Shoveling

 After the last time shoveling snow, I took off my old boots and one of my socks was wet. I didn't think much of it...we had been in the snow for about four hours. It wasn't until I picked up my boots after they'd dried out that I noticed the sole was separating from the top of the boot.

If you look closely, you can see the separation. If you look at the other boot, you can see where I used shoe glue to join the two sections when the same thing happened earlier. We decided it was time to get a new pair of boots, and so we did.

Once we got home, I picked up the old pair and set them on the garbage can. I felt I should take a picture, you know, to preserve the moment. After that, I tossed them in the garbage.

Looking at the picture, it made me think. The leather on the boots were still good, so was the tread. Yet, I was throwing away something that still had some use. I still have half the shoe glue I originally used on the shoes. They can still be fixed.

Then, looking at the boots, it reminded me of my parents.

Strange, I know.

Both my parents lived through the Great Depression, my father was five in 1929, my mother born a few years after it started. I didn't talk to them about their experiences when I had the chance--I don't know if they really wanted to talk about the things they went through. I've heard some stories and I know that more are documented in books and online. From what I know about my parents, I'll bet they'd keep those boots and patch them with the glue. The boots would have miles more that could be put on them...thousands and thousands of steps to walk.

After I thought about it, I dug the boots out of the trash and put them in a garage cabinet. I've never lived through a depression, at least not any as big as the one my parents experienced. The way things are going, either I or someone else may need those boots because new ones won't be available. I guess we'll find out.

Just A Few Of My Hats...

 Here are only a few of the hats I own. In fact, it's only a few of the hats with the University of Utah logo on them that I own. Other U of U hats are in a box somewhere...I haven't gotten them unpacked from the move. And because they're still packed away, I ought to get rid of them. Most of my hats come from thrift stores (except the Rose Bowl U hat my good friend, Bob picked up for me last month...). 

Personally, I don't believe I have a problem.

Others may disagree.

Of course, some may think I have an obvious problem, not because I'm collecting hats, but because of the type of hats I collect. Many of my friends would never wear a read hat with at big U (or a couple of U's...) on them. No, they wear hats with different colors and different big letters on them. To be fair, I would probably never wear the hats they wear so I understand where they're coming from.

I wear hats almost every time I go out, mostly for logical reasons--I don't want a sunburn or I don't want my head to freeze. If I were driving and my car broke down and I had to walk for any length of time, I'd be in trouble without a hat, be it in the summer, winter, spring, or fall. So, having a hat on hand (or head...) is a good thing. I just happen to like hats that advertise my favorite sports team.

My mother told me many times that one of my father's favorite sayings was this:

"If one is good, then two is better."

My father (and mother...) grew up during The Great Depression so that saying has a deeper meaning. Is one hat good? Yes. Is two hats better? Definitely. Do I have enough hats? Of course. Will I buy another U of U hat if I happen to see one in a thrift store?

Probably.