Dad's Lincoln

                The weather was warm – what we call the calm before the storm. The gas attendant was gingerly cleaning the gas pumps. Not seeing the point of cleaning them when a storm was approaching, I told the story about my dad.

                “I remember once when my dad did that, “ I mentioned as I got out to fill my tank.

                “He was cleaning his nice, fancy car inside and out. Actually, it was a used Lincoln and it was December 23, 1983…”

                We lived out in Lake Los Angeles, California. A lake it wasn’t, just dirt and wind. To clean a car was pointless because it would just get dirty again, especially if a storm was coming. Dad practically spit-shined that car. We drove out to Sylmar to pick up my step-mom from work. While we were waiting for her to get off, Dad started picking lint and other unseen tidbits off the upholstery. Sarcastically, I said, “Guy, Dad, it’s so clean you could lick it off!” He scowled at me to mind my own business. The next night the sky let loose some heavy rain. We drove to church and then out to the cemetery to visit Uncle Ray’s grave. Ray was one of Dad’s older brothers who had died the previous June. The road leading to the cemetery was called Avenue S. It was dirty and not well developed like it is today. It was filled with pot-holes and muddy water that splashed all over Dad’s nice, shiny, clean car. I snickered and laughed like  no other! It was payback. When we got home, Dad sprayed that car off good! I don’t remember if I said anything else after that. I probably did, knowing my frame of mind in those days.

                The gas attendant smiled. I think he needed something to do to keep him busy – being that it was Sunday in Utah and slow.

Just For You

This morning Lizzy woke up and put the ipad in bed with her. She knows how to turn it on to play the games and stories. It’s an activity that has become routine as I get ready for work. Several of her favorites are the Starfall apps, especially the turkey one. When she gets something right, the app plays a tune from Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer. She loves to move her hands as if she is leading the orchestra. She has a smile of satisfaction when I mimic her, like she knows she is accomplishing something tremendous!

                The other apps that she likes to watch are Mercer Mayer’s books. On this particular morning I was taken back in time – again – as I prepared for work. Way back before Lizzy was even a twinkle in Brook’s eyes and even further back before Brook was a twinkle in my own, young, innocent eyes ( I can hear John and Brook cough and choke at young, innocent), Dad worked for a company that installed security systems. He not only installed the alarms but maintained them as well. So, anytime they malfunctioned or went off, the technicians were alerted and sent out to investigate. This gave Dad the opportunity to meet some very famous people, including Mercer Mayer’s mother.

                Mercer Mayer wrote and illustrated children’s books. On one of Dad’s calls, he was sent out to the home of Mr. Mayer’s mother. She gave Dad a copy of the book, Just for You. I still have it. It is truly ranked as one of my favorites. I have read it to hundreds of children throughout the years.

                Technology is so accessible today that my toddler grandchildren can watch and hear the books on a thin tablet at the touch of a baby finger - while sitting in bed. As the story is read, the words being read are high-lighted in blue, except for the Christmas one. The letters pop out in red. When a picture is touched, the name of it springs out in blue letters, again, red for the Christmas version. When the spider and grasshopper are touched, they are tallied at the end of the story. The book has gone from being a paper-backed copy to an interactive game that a 14 month old child can manipulate. When the book came out, we thought we were so modern with what was then available. I have heard that we haven’t even scratched the surface of what will be offered in the future. I look forward to seeing what my grandchildren will be “reading” to their children. By the same token, I am thankful for having what we did have, such as paper copies of books. I am also thankful for my dad having the job that he did have at that time.

                Kelli McDonald

                9 December 2013