Today being Father's Day made me a little sad. We decided to head out to Blackburn, USA where my Dad's body is buried. I decided I wasn't up for the cemetery, but we did tour the "town". There isn't much left... not that there ever was much. There is a Baptist Church, a Methodist Church, an old gas station, an old school, and a few houses.
This is a photo of the school. My Dad went to school here through elementary. Then they decided to close the school because there just weren't enough children to be worth it. The kids were allowed to choose between Pawnee, Cleveland, and Ralston schools.
Dad went to Cleveland for a few years and then ended up at Ralston, where he graduated in 1975.
This is a photo of the old gas station. I can't tell you how many times Dad would take us driving around the country side (or "going crazy" as Dad called it) and we would always swing by this "gas station" and get a cold bottle of pop. Remember the bottles of pop? There is nothing better than a cold bottle of pop!
So many memories these old buildings hold. Sometimes I feel sad that all I have are memories, but then I realize how very thankful I am for every single one of them. How awful would it be if when we lose a loved one, they are just gone from existence?! No memories, no photos, nothing. Wow, that would be even more unbearable than the tears the memories bring! I know I've said this before, but what a strange thing grief is.
6.15.2008
Vintage
Posted by Brooke at 6/15/2008 10:04:00 PM
Labels: My Daddy
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9 comments:
Thanks for these photos. My grandpa used to pastor at that church in Blackburn (i think). I know my uncle did for awhile and we would go visit. What memories!! We were actually "by" there on Saturday. We went fishing at my aunt Gladys'. Thanks for sharing. I thought and prayed for you on Father's Day.
Gosh, I remember "going crazy" and stopping at that store! That bridge by there scared the crap out of me. I miss being a kid.
Wow, I remember getting those cold bottles of pop there! I hadn't thought of that in years. Jennifer, I was scared of that bridge too.
Great pictures, as always, Brooke! You were on my mind a lot yesterday. I know it must've been a really hard day for your family. You were (and are!) in my prayers!
Jenn, I'm sure that my Dad told us all kinds of stories to make us even more scared of the bridge too. Something about a big crack and it falling in... :o)
Kimberly, Charles did preach there for a long time. In fact he married my parents there in 1979. We went to the church for a few years while Mark was the preacher.
You wouldn't even recognize the church now. They put fancy windows in the front and bricked just the front. It just doesn't look right anymore.
Thanks for sharing the photos and the memories. I was thinking and praying for you a lot yesterday, knowing that it would be a hard day for you... I love to hear about the relationship you had with your dad, it is so neat just how close you were. Indeed, what a strange thing grief is...
Wow Brooke, Great photos...My clearest memory of that gas station is of a local mom telling her kids to pick a candy bar and a pop and not to waste any of it because it was their supper! YIKES. That bridge WAS scary...we used to see who could walk across the furthest before turning back...I don't think I ever won that one!
these were very good memories Brooke...I guess you know your dad and I went "crazy" quite a few times before you kids ever came along! LOL! I remember warm summer days with the windows down... leaned over toward him...my feet hanging out my window...radio up..cruisin around those blackburn county roads and stopping for a cold pop...wow...that was a long time ago! thank you for those memories again!
What great memories to have Brooke. Those are awesome pics!
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