When my girls were young, it became a tradition for us to attend a Father Daughter dance around Valentine’s Day. My oldest daughter was three years old when we went to our first dance. She was so excited about the dance that she did not get her normal afternoon nap that day. There were struggles… Continue reading Valentine’s Day Father Daughter Dance
Author: elvisgumby
Boston Concert
August 15, 1978 marked the eve of the first anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. This would be the first time I would visit Memphis on August 15 that I remember but this first trip was not to attend an Elvis Candlelight Vigil. I’m sure the Elvis fans gathered there that year just as… Continue reading Boston Concert
McDonald’s Cheeseburger
My father was traveling through Memphis when I was a kid. As he was leaving Memphis he stopped at a McDonalds on Summer Avenue near the edge of town. He went into the store, went up to the counter and placed his order. He wanted a cheeseburger. A cheeseburger costs 65 cents. He told them… Continue reading McDonald’s Cheeseburger
Done With Diapers
It was a cold Sunday morning in February. I was still in bed but my wife had already gotten up and was in the shower getting ready for church. I was drifting in and out of a state of sleep when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was my son. I rolled over… Continue reading Done With Diapers
Breadsticks and Giant Men in Diapers
Last Saturday evening, my wife cooked a chicken and pasta meal. It had lots of vegetables and the sauce was very light. This meal was very similar to others that she has done in the past. There are some variations on the types and amounts of vegetables and noodles. There is also variation in the… Continue reading Breadsticks and Giant Men in Diapers
Star Wars…Nothing But Star Wars
When I returned to high school in the fall of 1977, one of the kids in my class was wearing a shirt with a phrase on it that said “May The Force Be With You”. I found out quickly that this was related to the film Star Wars which had come out earlier that year. Obviously, I… Continue reading Star Wars…Nothing But Star Wars
Christmas Communion
Among our family Christmas traditions is Christmas Eve communion. This tradition didn’t start until I was in college. At that time, the pastor at the church I grew up in started serving come and go communion and this tradition continues today. Even before this tradition started, we would go to my grandparents’ house on Christmas Eve.… Continue reading Christmas Communion
Wheeler Family Christmas Tree
I have fond memories of decorating the Christmas tree when I was growing up. We always used an artificial tree. This was not the realistic artificial trees that you see today. The branches of this tree had a green hue that was identical to the color of the green army men that I played with… Continue reading Wheeler Family Christmas Tree
My Grandparents’ Christmas Tree
My grandparents are the only people that I can remember having an aluminum Christmas tree. These trees became popular in the early 1960’s. I don’t know when my grandparents got theirs but I don’t remember a Christmas before they got it and since I was born in 1962, there is a good chance that they… Continue reading My Grandparents’ Christmas Tree
A Child’s First Christmas
My oldest daughter’s birthday falls between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. So for her first Christmas, she was almost a year old. She was old enough that she would be able to appreciate getting toys. She would also be able to enjoy looking at Christmas decorations. My wife always decorated our whole house for Christmas… Continue reading A Child’s First Christmas