Peter and Puff

Happy Birthday Peter Yarrow... 

the man who wrote a little diddly called Puff the Magic Dragon...

Puff was dad's theme song... 

he sang it everywhere he went... all the time... in front of crowds... 

or privately at the bedside of a little boy with leukemia...

Peter, Paul and Mary came on the show in 1964, honoring him with a GOLD RECORD

for helping PUFF rise to #1 on the charts! 

To this day I can't hear it without my heart swelling with pride, and my eyes filling with tears.  

I don't want to hear the controversy about the meaning of the words.  

It is simply a sweet song about growing up...

After daddy died, a book with beautiful illustrations was released

This is the first time this song has been put into book form...

Everyone has their own vision of "Puff"... I was worried that it would ruin it for me...
but I think it is perfect...

But the best part is the ending... Little Jackie Paper is all grown up...
and it is now his daughter's turn to frolic in the autumn mist...
in a land called Honalee

I found an autographed copy (by Peter)

at Powell's of course!

a fitting gift for my baby brother,
don't you think?

I know a lot of times I write about my father and his show Addie Bobkins

but that was a HUGE part of my childhood...
and in finding my OWN path, I have to maneuver around the Addie Playground a bit...
plus... it just brings me great joy!

I REMEMBER

There is more to my father than many people realize. 

He is mostly remembered for being "Addie Bobkins"... King of the Boo Boos,

with Puppets over his shoulder, and Kids cheering for Popeye Cartoons... 

strumming his 12-string guitar, singing Puff the Magic Dragon,

always accompanied by his loyal sidekick FEATHER, a beautiful, impeccably trained collie.   

Not many know he was Student Body President at Lewis and Clark College, 

majoring in Psychology and studying to be in the Ministry, 

or about his years in politics,  and on the School Board...

or his ability to give a 30-minute impromptu speech when the President was late... 

or about his years teaching motivational real estate seminars...

or of the children's books and poetry he has written.

When asked to describe himself, he would simply say 

"I'm a DRUMMER"

But my father was also a Veteran... in the Air Force during the Korean War
he served as Entertainment Director at McChord Air Force Base.

I'm sure he loved it, but sadly, he was embarrassed as well.  

When asked what he did in the service, he would avoid the answer.  

I'm not sure he ever reconciled with the fact that he actually SERVED his country...

that his talents were NEEDED - that he brought HAPPINESS to the troops! 

This Memorial Day

I am proud to introduce my father,

Robert Harold Adkins, United States Air Force

Thank you for instilling in me a love of my country...

and teaching to pray for whomever is in the White House...

Republican... Democrat... black... white or purple... 

I REMEMBER...

The Girl behind the Camera

Happy Birthday to my firstborn...

The girl behind the camera... usually...

"It's a girl"... my husband nonchalantly stated...

as if there was never any doubt...

I love you forever, I like you for always...

Just a Good Idea

"Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!"  

Remember that commercial?  Admit it - you giggled.
The jokes are endless. 

Even the New York Post got into it

There are YouTube paradies galore, such as...

Medi-Call Spoof

It reminds me of another commercial... 

Gotta love YouTube!

But now that I'm... um.... in my senior discount years... the reality of this doesn't make me snicker anymore.  My stepmother, tripped over the cat going down the stairs... landed at the bottom with her whole pelvis twisted out of joint.  
She literally dragged herself down the hallway, 
pulled the phone down from the counter to call 911.  

That little lifeline gadget would have come in handy...

But here is a better (and cheaper) idea!  
Put your car keys beside your bed at night - and keep them in your pocket when you are outside doing yard work in the hot sun (my husband is diabetic and passed out once) or in the garage digging through possible scorpion territory... just keep them handy!

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button on your key fob for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.   It's a security alarm system that you probably already have, requires no installation,  and you won't be 

fined for a FALSE alarm!

No burglar is going to stick around while all the neighbors are looking out their windows to see what's going on... and you probably already do this, but remember to carry your keys while walking to your car -  not just dangling from  your pinky.    Be aware of your surroundings... 
and have your thumb on the trigger!  

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr.'s office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. 

PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT.

I just think this is the neatest hint - like a Senior Discount for Safety!

HONK if you can't get up!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Mother's Day

For your musical enjoyment while you paruse...

In my beginning were Bob and Joanne...

Young and in Love

Who started a production starring ME!  

I ruled the kingdom alone for a few years.

Until they cast another...

And our family grew...

And grew some more... 

Until I got married and started my own production...
with encouragement from my new baby sister!

Nobody can prepare you for the love you will feel... 

Then we cast Carly who filled my world with laughter !

and I saw my own grandmother in a whole new light...

All I ever wanted was to be a MOMMY!

And life goes on and the growing up happens...
and another generation comes to pass.
Suddenly I am a Grandmother...

And it brings me such JOY to see what an amazing 
MOTHER

my own daughter is...

As they grow and learn together...

and the cycle continues...
I look so forward to what will be...

Have yourself a
MERRY LITTLE MOTHER's DAY 

Mothers... Aunties... Step-Mothers... Mother Figures... 
Dads who are moms and Future Mothers

and those thinking about their Mothers

I miss you every day mom

You are my Sunshine