Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Ralph E. Doll, My Dad








Father's Day is coming up on Sunday and I've got a treasure chest full of memories of Dad.

Off and on when I was growing up, I thought I had it tough. Of course, my thinking was unrealistic and immature. Nobody has a perfect life but now when I look back, I can see that I had it made and then some.

Dad worked hard, no matter what he was doing. For 35 years, he worked at the big corporation in town as a patternmaker. Dad never missed a day of work, in fact, the only time I recall him being ill during those years was when he had a bad case of hives.

Mom got up early with Dad every morning. She made his breakfast of coffee, a soft-boiled egg or two and a shredded wheat biscuit or two in a bowl with milk. After he ate the shredded wheat, he'd pick up the bowl and drink the remaining milk from the bowl. If it was time to leave for work and his second cup of coffee was too hot to drink, he'd pour it from his cup into the bowl to cool it and drink again from the bowl. (He wasn't concerned with highfalutin ways and wasn't impressed by folks who were). While he was eating, Mom packed his lunch in a metal lunch pail. When he finished his coffee, he'd walk around the kitchen table, kiss my mother and then me good-bye (if I happened to be up early that day), pick up his lunch bucket and walk out the door. I liked his kiss and the smell of coffee on his breath.

We had one car. If Mom needed the car for the day, she took Dad to work. My brothers and I rode with her when she picked him up at the end of his work day. We'd eagerly watch the back door of the castings division building for his face while we waited in the parking lot beside the river. Each of us wanted to be the first one to spot Dad when he came out. He'd appear amid a swarm of men, all swinging their lunch boxes and happy to be breathing the fresh air. To this day, I remember the smell of iron castings that drifted from his skin and clothes when he slid behind the steering wheel. I liked the smell.

Dad always planted a big vegetable and flower garden in the backyard every year and flowers along the side of the house by the driveway. He nicknamed me, Shaddy, because I followed him around the yard like a second shadow. I liked being his Shaddy. Peony bushes, rose bushes and endless other flowers grew over the years under his care. He planted apple and cherry trees, including a Bing cherry tree, about the time his family began to grow. A table for two grew until, eventually, seven of us sat at the supper table and squeezed to fit into an entire pew in church.

Being an experienced patternmaker, Dad happily and skillfully worked with wood. He appreciated all the varying types and kept a sizable inventory of scraps for his woodworking projects. He crafted anything my brothers and I asked of him when we had homes of our own. All he needed from us was either a picture or a detailed description of what we wanted. While I was expecting our son, Jared, I found a picture of a hanging crib in a magazine and fell in love with it. Of course, Dad made one just like it. Lon painted it bright yellow to match the colorful giraffes and elephants in the wallpaper. Our baby's room was something to see, thanks in large part to Dad.

Although Dad wasn't against relaxing with a beer and enjoying life off his feet, if a project needed doing, he stayed at it until it was completed. "You've gotta make hay while the sun shines," he'd say as he toiled for endless hours, shoveling dirt, cutting wood, hammering boards or whatever was needed. The harder the job, the harder he worked.

At supper time, Dad worked hard too. "You can tell what kind of worker a man is by the way he eats," he'd say as he hunched over his plate and shoveled in Mom's good cooking until his plate was clean. Mom would refill his plate and bring him dessert and coffee when he was ready for it.

When I was a little blue-eyed blonde toddler, Dad would sit on the davenport with his legs stretched out in front of him and his feet on the floor. I'd climb up on his lap and then slide down his legs for the pure fun of it. I never tired of climbing up and sliding down. When Mom said it was bedtime, my brothers and I'd pretend we didn't hear her. Dad would simply click his fingers and my four brothers and I scrammed.

When I got my first job, I had money to buy Christmas presents. Dad's eyes filled with tears and he jumped up and gave me a big hug when I gave him his gift. I'll never forget how my small gesture affected him.

Lon and I remember Dad often as we go about our daily lives. We use some of his sayings and tell some of his jokes or just remember the way he was. I could go on and on and on with memories of Dad and it'd be fun, especially for me. I'll do that again some other day.

I wish Dad could come back for a visit on Sunday. Lon would grill him a steak and I'd make him strawberry shortcake. We know if Lon would ask Dad if his steak was good, he'd smile and say it was absolutely perfect. The strawberry shortcake would be the best he'd ever had. Yup, that's what he'd say with appreciation, sincerity and love beaming from deep within him. We'd soak it all in.

On June 21st this year, Lon and I will be celebrating Father's Day and our 40th wedding anniversary with our son. I don't want to detract from memories of Dad, yet this milestone is memorable as well.

Thanks for letting me tell you about Dad; Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there.

(I've included photos of a cast iron ashtray with Dad's first and last employment dates and a sampling of his handiwork. He made the rocking horse to entertain his grandchildren, the glass-topped tables and wall mirror for our home per our special requests, the truck bank for our son, and a whole bunch of other items (a bracelet, letter opener, boomerang, whistle, napkin holder, birdhouse and trinket box) for our use. You're looking at only a tiny, tiny fraction of all the woodworking projects he tackled and completed in his lifetime for my family alone).

16 comments:

WayUpSolutions said...

Shaddy,

I really enjoyed reading this post - especially the part about how you slid down your Dad's out-stretched legs.

I love it when you bring out your toy box of words and tell us stories!

Sarah said...

Oh wow! I didn't know your Dad my dear, but he sounds incredible. I'm guessing both my Dad and Grandpa (Noss) probably new him, yes?

I loved taking this trip down memory lane with you. It is so vivid and brought back so many of my own memories with my Dad. This is just wonderful Shaddy. He was so crafty and talented too. You have to love that, look at all the fantastic gifts you have from him! They are all so very nice!! Lucky girl :)

40 YEARS?!?!? Holy Smokes! Congratulations!!! WOW! I was 3 when you got married? that can not be right....

Love you Shaddy, and thank you so much for posting this today. I really love it.

Sarie

Amy said...

Great memories! Thanks for sharing them!

Lia said...

What a lovely man your Dad sounded.
I never had a Dad, but yours sounds like the one I carried in my imagination. I was lucky that I had a great Grandpa, who filled the gap.

That mirroe your Dad made is devine, quite the skilled craftsman your Dad.
By the way in case you don't know, I'm a joiner by trade, so I can see he was skilled.

40 years married, wow, that's amazing.
I hope you 2 have a lovely day with your son on Sunday.

Anonymous said...

Auntie says what a great tribute for your Dad on Father Day. i have a few of his crafts too. I hope you, Mom and Dad are looking down and reading all of the great things you wrote, and being very proud as I am.

Cheryl Peters said...

Hi friends and Aunt Babe,
Zelda: I treasure my toy box of words and plan to dig into it every chance I get. I love that you enjoy my parades of words.
Sarah: I don't think Dad knew your father but he may have known your grandpa. I know you miss your father and I'm so sorry you lost him at his early age. Thanks for being you.
Odd Mom Out: I'm reading your blog now and thank you for visiting here.
Lia: Dad had a less than lovely childhood and that would affect him at times, but overall, he was a fine father. Thank you for appreciating his skills and for the anniversary wishes.
Aunt Babe: I can't imagine all the people who have items that Dad made. He shared at least something with nearly everyone who came around. Thank you for being proud of me and encouraging me always.

Walk said...

Your dad and mine had a lot in common. Both were hard workers and both loved working with wood. There isn't a room at his house that he didn't touch. Even the everywhere you look around his yard you can see his handiwork.

I'm afraid people like our dad's are getting fewer and fewer. They certainly were the "Greatest Generation".

(By the way, for some reason Google will only let me comment every now and then. So if you don't hear from me, I love you blog and know that I'm reading.)

Cheryl Peters said...

Hey Walk: I'm sorry to hear Google is frequently blocking your ability to comment. That upsets me. If I knew what to do to correct the problem, I'd sure get to work on it. I sure don't want to miss any comments from you, my friend.

Walk said...

In my reckoning, I reckoned that since your dad's name is Ralph E. Doll, that would make you a real living Doll. I never knew a real Doll before. I've known some Ducks, but that's a different story.

Cheryl Peters said...

Walk: For me, it was great fun having the last name Doll, but you can imagine how "unfun" it was at times for my brothers.

Unknown said...

What amazing memories. And now we know why your name is Shaddy! I adore nicknames with good stories behind them.

Cheryl Peters said...

Outlaw Lady (K.M. Weiland): 'Twas nice of you to stop in and comment. I surely do treasure my memories and my nickname.

Shokoofeh said...

oh thank you so much dear Shaddy for your sweet words.

xo

Cheryl Peters said...

You deserve them, Shokoofeh.

Anonymous said...

I love that your dad worked with wood. Isn't wonderful to have a truckload of memories?!

Cheryl Peters said...

Yes it is, Linda.