We took a pop up camper, where Dad and Grandpa would sleep, and my brother and I slept in the back of the truck. First night there, Lee and I got sent off to bed, and we heard Dad and Grandpa talking and laughing until the wee hours of the morning. I don’t know when I fell asleep, but around sunrise I heard a loud BOOM and crashing pots and pans. Then I heard Dad and grandpa yelling and cussing up a storm.

Next thing I knew, Dad was at the back of the truck hollering at me, “Bob, gimme my other pants!”

He must have changed right there, because moments later, he threw a pair of smoking polyester shorts in the back of the truck and muttered his way back to the pop up. I held them up, and the only part left of those shorts was a zipper, the waistband, and the back. The entire front of his britches burned off.  I asked him later what happened. He and grandpa argued and yelled the whole trip , each blaming the other for what happened.

Seems grandpa thought he smelled propane, so he (thought) he reached out and turned off the stove. Dad meanwhile, got up a little later, and he (thought) he turned the stove on to make some coffee. Apparently, the cabinet below the stove was nice and full of propane by this point, and when dad lit a match—BOOM! Say goodbye to a loaf of bread, a couple of pots and pans….and Dad’s pants, not to mention,, his dignity. Dad went commando back then.

So, to any of my family reading this- blowing stuff up,, I come by it honestly.

Robert

Last time I saw Wayne, he was at the N40 in Remer. We went out for a campfire supper, cooked by Wayne of course. When we arrived he wasn’t there, but then here he came. He had borrowed Sarah’s 4 wheeler and was driving the grandkids around. I know his health was really starting to slow him down at the time, but to look at him then, that day, when the sun was shining, birds were singing, campfire burning, and he was giving rides to the kids. He was happy.  The way he looked that day, will be the way I will always see Wayne. I Love You Wayne, from my whole heart, Thank You for Everything, and I Love You.

It was July 2000 and we were all staying at the Stratosphere, Wayne, Shirley, Roger, Tom, Jen, Mark and I. Our room was actually right across from Tom and Jen.

It had been decided that the night before the wedding, Tom would stay in our room and I would be staying with Jen. So after a night of "pre wedding parties Vegas style" the wedding day came a little fast. The next morning while I was showering my husband had a minor issue with the sprinkler head in our room. As the hotel rooms started to flood and the intercom lady was telling the whole hotel not to panic, but get out, (I’m telling ya it was crazy)our hallway filled with hotel security.  With all the commotion that was going on and everyone trying to keep the wedding dress dry, and still trying to figure out what was going on, Wayne talked to the Hotel people and calmly got us a new room.  Mark then informed me that the hotel would view the tapes to see if the damages would be billed to our room. As I went into panic mode wondering how we would ever take care of that expense, Wayne stopped me, he gave me that look –you know the look he gives you when he looks  above his glasses-and  he said, ”Does the front desk have your credit card number?” I told him no. So, with a Wayne smile he just said, “Don’t worry about it, nothing they can do!”-----This story is told or used (to teach you what NOT to do to sprinkler heads in any room!) quite often every year!

Twelve and a half years ago I found out that I was pregnant with Antonio.  Dad was sooo excited.  When we talked about it, we decided that we should take a trip to Laughlin, NV (before parenthood made it impossible for me to get away).  So for the first time, dad and I went on our own special gambling trip.  While we were in Laughlin, he was so excited at the prospect of a grandchild that he told every person we came in contact with!  It was a little embarrassing when he would tell people " This is my daughter...she gonna have a baby!!!"  Dad was never known to have a really quiet voice, so news traveled around the casino pretty quickly and eventually I had strangers approach me asking if I was the one having the baby. I have several ask if this was dad's first grandchild and when I told them that he had a whole bunch they were amazed he got so wound up about it.  That didn't amaze me.  I think the only thing in this world that made him prouder than being a father to 5 children was being a grandpa of 13!  Of course, if you have ever been gambling with my Daddy, you know I came home from that trip with bruises on my arms from those bony fingers that would grab you when he was excited about something!

After Antonio was born, grandpa was always there.  I remember sitting down in Grandpa's recliner to give the baby a bottle and Grandpa would come in (with those long legs it always looked like he was running), snatch Antonio out of my arms (with some comment about my lack of skill), tell me to move and settle himself comfortably in the chair with his grandson on his lap.  He was the only one who could stop the boy from squirming by wrapping Antonio up in his long arms and holding down his arms and legs.  He made it seem so easy!  Then he would tell me to lay down and rest (he was always telling me to do that).  I would lay down on the couch next to them and Dad would start to hum that tuneless tune.  It was a hum that emanated from deep in his chest.  As he would hum, Antonio would settle down and I would lay there and feel such contentment that I could let go of my worries because I knew that, wrapping in those arms of love, my son would never come to any harm.

Five years after my son was born, Dad and I decided we needed another trip to Laughlin (with the understanding that our time together was getting short).  So we planned our trip.  Right before we left on that trip I had the pleasure of informing him that he was gonna be a grandpa AGAIN!  You can only imagine how that trip to Laughlin went.  

When baby Samantha was born, again Grandpa was there.  He held her, fed her, comforted her and hummed his tuneless tune.  A few months after Sam was born, I had a kidney removed.  I stayed at mom and dad's house to recover a bit before going home.  They took care of my little baby for me and of course told me to rest.  I would again lay on the couch and listen to Dad hum to Sam like he hummed to Antonio.  It was the sound of peace and contentment.  He hummed like he was fulfilling his life's purpose.

I was sad when dad's health got bad enough that he could not hum anymore.  And then something was brought to my attention.  I took Samantha with me to work one day when she was 5.  Then next day as I was sitting in my office, a co-worker walked by and said, "Now I know where she gets it".  I was confused.  She mentioned that I was humming (I didn't even notice).  And then she proceeded to tell me that Samantha had been humming the day before when she was with me.  She had noticed it several times that day.  It was the tuneless tune.  I can not replicate it when I want to, it only comes when not focused on.  When in that moment of peace and contentment with life.  Since then, I have heard Samantha hum it several time and it brings joy to  my heart.  Although we may be saddened by the idea that we will never hear his voice again, close your eyes, find your peace and you will hear dad humming that tuneless tune just for you.  

By the way, after Samanatha was born I informed Dad that we could not go to Laughlin again because I refused to have any more children!  He just laughed.  Three years later, he tried to talk me into another trip to Laughlin, I repeated myself, saying "Everytime we have gone to Laughlin, I'm preganant".  His simple answer was "I know....we need some more babies around here".