Both the writer Kathie Bassett and photographer Margie Barnes did a stellar job. I was honored that Kathie chose my poem “Scribbler” as a theme to pull the themes together.

Margie must have clicked a hundred photos. The photo you see in the paper was taken at the end on the fly without being posed. Yet it looks as if it were composed with great care. The corner of the house. The flag. The sense of goodness of being on a porch. And the two of us looking relaxed and natural.

Pop also called a square dance Saturday night. His lungs held out. He noted that he had to sit, not stand as he did in his younger days.

Another project he’s working on involves providing local history for the Piasa Creek 3-panel kiosk. This project is for paddlers fall along the Mississippi River from Louisana to the St. Louis area. Our panel is to be called “Riehl Life.”

Happy Father’s Day all around!

For Fathers Day our blog of the month topic is, naturally fathers. Check out the “Daddy ‘n Me” archive to read, read, read to your heart’s content about the life and times of my Pop.

You can also check out the “Family Matters” archive while you’re at it. These and other archives are available in two places on the site:

1) Left side of top post displays current categories. Mouse over any of these and click.
2) Below the announcement section on the left side you’ll see what bloggers call “the tag cloud.” Mouse over any of these tags and click.

There you have it!

–JGR

When Trails Divide
by Erwin A. Thompson
For Ruth, my faithful partner of the trail for almost sixty-four years.

From youth’s instinctive optimism
To the realism of an older age
We faced the world together,
Like the turning of a page.

It seemed we each could understand
How the other one might feel—
We made a pretty darn good guess,
And kept our shoulders to the wheel.

No regrets, or second thoughts that
The marital knot was tied.
Together, we accomplished things
Many would not have tried.

Janet said we were like a team of mules,
Hauling supplies o’er a rocky mountain trail
The things we tried were things we did!
Not many of them failed.

“From Jerusalem to Jericho
They’re travelin’ every day –
And many are the fallen ones
That lie along the way.”
[Quote from an old gospel song]

The world is not too diff’rent, now;
With battered souls throughout the land.
We saw the heartbreak and the loss,
And always tried to lend a helping hand.

She said: “You must go on alone,”
Rememb’ring when she was my bride—
We shared it all, the good and bad.
My teardrops fall.

Our trails divide

Family stories shape our lives. Erwin A. Thompson and Janet Grace Riehl reflect on the power of memory and lead a free workshop, “Family Stories in Prose and Poetry.”

Janet and Erwin discuss: (1) tools to research past generations;
(2) contrasting views of history and genealogy research applied to family stories;
(3) tools for spotting stories and turning oral history into writing;
(4) how to create a legacy for the future.

You can go home with the start of your own memory book. This program is free, but requires registration. To register, call 1-800-613-3163.

The Indiana Nut Growers Association is part of the Northern Nut Growers Association. The placement of one of my father’s poems is quite appropriate since his grandfather E. A. Riehl was one of the premiere horticulturalists of his day, specializing in the grafting of nut trees to create new varieties.

My father Erwin A. Thompson: “Your short term goal will soon be realized.”

My brother Gary Thompson: “Don’t worry about the stock market, invest in family.”

My sister-in-law Patty Thompson: “Opportunity knocks on your door every day–answer it.”

Myself: “Be prepared to modify your plans.”

These were a completely perfect fit for each of us.

My father? Well, heck, he was about to pick up a gold medal award for his poetry book!

My brother is dedicated to several generations of family, and lets the rest of the world roll by him.

My sister-in-law is all about positive attitude and greeting adversity with grace.

Me: My life is a study in flexibility.

Our time in Branson was pleasant and fulfilling. Pop claimed his Stars and Flag Book award onstage at the Mansion Theater. The rest of the time was spent enjoying the Veterans Homecoming Week. And, I finally got to meet Pat Avery.

Branson is the Las Vegas of the Midwest without the gambling. There are 100 theaters there offering glitzy country-music style entertainment. So, you gotta go to some shows. Our first show was part of the awards ceremony. The second show was on the Branson Belle Showboat. Wow. It’s like a mansion. Pop was one of the four veterans chosen to be honored at the start of the show.

The Branson trip was the kick-off for Pop’s birthday week. From there we went to a company meal on his birthday, November 9th…and an appearance at two creative writing classes at Alton High School.

Pop, the old man of the mountain, wowed them.

My father, Erwin A. Thompson, turns 94 this November 9th. What could make a better birthday present than winning an award for a book you put a lifetime of heart into?

That’s just what happened when his poetry book “Worth Remembering: The Poetry of Our Heritage–a family and friends poetry anthology and some of the stories” won a Gold Medal Award.

We’ll pick up the Stars and Flags book award during Veterans Homecoming Week in Branson, Missouri. It’ll be a family trip with my brother Gary Thompson and his wife Patty joining Pop and me.

Click here for a list of the winners.

In addition to Pop and me, three of the poets featured in “Worth Remembering: The Poetry of Our Heritage (a family and friends poetry anthology)” were there to listen as my father read their poetic contributions.

Pop chose to include family and friends in this anthology rather than just his own poems. This choice reflects his drive towards creating connections, community, and his love of collaboration.

Everyone there was connected by family and local history. We know each other Way Back. These were the folks Pop chose to receive complimentary copies.