Wallpaper

When I was in elementary and middle school, my family and I lived in the little town of Bixby Oklahoma. This in itself is not very interesting – but then again either was my life... or so I thought.

I was not one of those kids that dreamed of living in some far away place – unless you count Tantooine (where Luke Skywalker grew up). My view of the world was rather small; so I never dreamed of living in the big city or the country. I was just in the middle somewhere.

My parents were, as far as I was concerned, not very extraordinary. In fact, I can’t remember ever comparing them to someone else. As I get older though – I’ve begun to see them in a new light. Things that I “knew” when I was my daughter’s age are finally starting to have an impact in how I see them.

I remember having the “opportunity” to help my dad scrape off the old wallpaper in the breakfast area of our kitchen. At some point in the process I made a discovery. Next to the fridge (beneath the phone with a mile-long cord) was a message: “My wife has two hips – like two battle ships”

This was a strange code to me – and I’m still not entirely sure that it was a very flattering thing to say about my mom. But I was floored …. My parents had written on the wall; and I knew that was bad, because I myself had been I trouble several times for doing that. It didn’t make any sense.

My dad laughed and told me that while he and his friend Merrill were putting the paper up they had gotten a little crazy and decided to write some things. He acted as though he had forgotten. As we worked, we found more silly phrases, a picture or two, and a whole other side of my dad that I had never seen before.

My daughter turns 10 years old this week, and my dad has promised to send her a picture that he painted for her birthday. He paints lighthouses - so it’s isn’t surprising that this will be a seascape from the outer-banks. What got me thinking about the two battleships was the fact that he based this painting on a photo he took with his old Kodachrome.

Mom & Dad and Merrill and his wife Ruth took a vacation together (leaving me with their oldest daughter). On that vacation, dad took an interest in lighthouses and snapped a few pictures. About a month ago – after 30 years, starting his own business, going back to school, losing a wife, remarrying, open heart surgery and having 2 grandkids – he had the film developed.

I typed all this (without interruption I might add – dust) to say this. My parents had friends that they hung out with and did crazy stuff together. It’s taken me nearly 32 years to get there – but I’m still learning who they are.