May 5, 2017
My parents were married on this day in 1946. It would have been their 71st wedding anniversary. I have fond memories of growing up in ’50’s and ’60’s. I guess we were a typical family of that era. My father and mother didn’t often show affection, but I think, in their own way, they were happy. My father worked as a heavy equipment operator. Because his work was seasonal, he couldn’t take off in the summer. So sometimes my mother would take my sister and me to the shore on her own. Dad would join us on the weekends. We would often take Labor Day weekend trips…because that was his only time off. My mother was a cafeteria worker in my high school and later became a school secretary. I think I disappointed my parents because I wasn’t very good at sports or school. Actually, I was probably better than I showed, in that I was very self-conscious and would always freeze up. As I grew older, I became much better at school…but never any better at sports. In any case, my parent were supportive of me and my sister, whatever we did. I miss them all now and wish I had been more attentive to them when they were here. Sadly, I suspect most people feel that way. This photo, taken by my sister, shows my parents sitting in their front yard. I think that’s where they were happiest. In my heart today and always….Mom and Dad.
billbenbarker 