Happy Father's Day Big John!!

I hope all the Dad's out there have a wonderful, relaxing day. Believe it or not, I had to think about how to word that sentence because my Dad rarely relaxes in the traditional way- he's always doing something- ALWAYS.  Rumor has it that when my parents were first married, Dad couldn't read a ruler. My Mom's dad taught him and from there, there was no turning back! Their first house, was a standard Cape, that he transformed into the home where they raised 4 children and still live today.

He could do anything!! He finished the upstairs, basement (complete with a bar), built a garage and porch, created a massive retaining wall so we could have a backyard, installed a pool for the kids, build a sweetheart swing, shed, garden, installed a wood burning stove and chimney...the list goes on and on and on.... Including working side by side with my sister as she personally gut and rebuilt her house in the city.  The renovation was massive and the results are stunning. He was in heaven while working on this project but that is a story for another blog. 

There are pictures of my siblings as toddlers, sitting on saw horses, essentially being used as ballast, so he could cut a board. As kids, we were always involved in whatever the project he happened to be working on- much to our dismay. He felt strongly that we needed to know how to do things so when we had our own homes, we would know how to take care of them. Just this week at work I was able to astound a coworker with my knowledge of flux. 

When there was nothing to do at our house (ha!), he took his show on the road to help whoever needed it. We'd go to visit an uncle on Cape Cod and upon arrival he would present my Dad with his list of "mini-minor" or "mini-major" projects. He did this because he needed the help but mostly because he knew my Dad wouldn't be able to sit still for an entire weekend like most people. I recall installing bulkheads and wiring kitchen fans and taking some joy in the fact that my uncle was the one being instructed for a change.  For the record, those lessons never stuck with my uncle but it was fun to watch! 

Need a tree taken down? Call Big John- a family nickname picked up somewhere along the way. He would offer to take down a tree for free on three conditions (aside from the obvious fact that he wouldn't cut pine trees- too much sap and as a result creosote):  he got to keep the wood, he could store the wood in your yard for a year so it had time to season (dry out), and probably the most important, you provide beer when the job is done. He has NEVER purchased wood for his wood stove in his entire life. He probably still has some stored waiting for pick up. 

So back to relaxing... His idea of relaxing was some project he could work on at night. There was a brief ship in a bottle phase. He completely refurbished an old player piano-which became a fixture at  any party held at our house.  I remember him tinkering with the air bellows and cutting and fitting small pieces of flexible plastic tubing so the air would move the keys. He built an amazing dollhouse one year when I was in grade school.  How jealous was I that Mr. So and So asked him to build a dollhouse for his daughter as a Christmas present.  Every night for months he would cut tiny pieces of trim, design a widows walk, obsess about access to the attic, make tiny shutters for the windows and railings for the porch. When he had questions on design he'd ask me for my opinion. I got help select the wallpaper and pick the tiny stone for fireplace. Finally it was finished and it was the of delivery day. Off it went to the lucky daughter of Mr. So and So. Hope she likes it.  Imagine my surprise on Christmas morning when it was waiting for me under the tree!!!  He build a fort, complete with drawbridge for his godson, Stephen, and many years later, another for his grandsons. He built wooden toy car carriers but his most recent project is building decorative toy soldiers for use at the holidays. I've lost track of how many sets he's built but people love them!! He should start a business- he'd be a hit a craft shows.

I could go on and on about my Dad- his generosity and kindness but he'd hate that and this is turning into a very lengthy post. I'll wrap up with this...Tomorrow is June 17th- the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. My dad grew up in a house practically across the street from the Bunker Hill Monument. Boston and it's history has always been a part of our family and he is going to be spending this Father's Day watching the Bunker Hill Day parade.

  So Dad, I hope you have a good time today. Love, Pal