"Fair winds and following sea's"
Ryan
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The World's Best Grandpa
The world lost a great man on Monday and I am very sad, but at the same time I am very happy for what a great life he lead and the legacy that he left behind. Here are a few highlights!
Jim Meehan (not James!)
Husband to Mary Meehan for over 65 years.
Father to 7 children
Grandfather to 15
Great grandfather to 18
and trusted friend to many more!
My grandfather served on Submarines in World War II. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor before the US entered the war and luckily he was moved to sub duty before Pearl Harbor was bombed. His sub the Guardfish made it back to Pearl Harbor some months after the attack. After a short stop, they then unleashed fury in the Pacific! Even having a write up in Time magazine with some amazing photos (that I am still trying to get my hands on!) If you were able to get my Grandfather talking about the war, he would sometimes tell stories of when the sub was under attack and they thought they were never coming home.
Few people know that my Grandfather was also a civilian on the maiden voyage of the USS Nautilus, the first Nuclear powered submarine. My grandfather made a living building submarines and supported a large and loving family with that career.
He was also an avid golfer! One year on opening day of a Connecticut golf course, he put his ball on the Tee, swung and nailed a hole in one! It doesn't get much better than that.
Grandpa showed us how to crab and clam at the Latimer Point. He would take us out fishing on the Kelly Girl and skiing and kneeboarding in the Brown Betty.
During the winter, when he and Grandma were down in Florida, we would always get huge boxes filled with Oranges and Grapefruit. Grandpa would always tease and say that he went out and picked them himself!
Grandpa always had his secret stash of snickers and Breyers ice cream in the freezer. Everyone knew just where to look for his "secret stash"
He even was a Christmas Tree cutter - one year he let Mike and I cut a Christmas Tree down from the Uncasville home and he put it in the back of his Mazda truck and didn't tie it down, so it ended up in the middle of 395!! Somehow he got the tree back in the truck and safely installed in the tree stand at our house!
The best part of having such a wonderful Grandfather is his well placed birthday! Every year in August, my family celebrated "National Lobster Day" where my Grandmother would buy a literal ton of Lobsters and we would feast the entire day. I am so happy that Ryan and I were able to bring the kids to experience Lobster Day last year. Of course it was Grandpa's 85th Birthday and it was the best one!
I have so many wonderful memories of my Grandfather and he has had a huge influence on who I am today. I just wanted to share a little piece of him with all of you.
Grandpa at Lobster Day! Happy 85th Birthday!
Grandma and Grandpa on their wedding day!
50th Anniversary Photo
50th Anniversary photo with their children.
60th Anniversary Photo (notice what they are wearing!)
Grandma and Grandpa created the greatest place on earth - yes, even better than Disneyland! They created Latimer Point and it was the place that always made everyone the happiest!
Jim Meehan (not James!)
Husband to Mary Meehan for over 65 years.
Father to 7 children
Grandfather to 15
Great grandfather to 18
and trusted friend to many more!
My grandfather served on Submarines in World War II. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor before the US entered the war and luckily he was moved to sub duty before Pearl Harbor was bombed. His sub the Guardfish made it back to Pearl Harbor some months after the attack. After a short stop, they then unleashed fury in the Pacific! Even having a write up in Time magazine with some amazing photos (that I am still trying to get my hands on!) If you were able to get my Grandfather talking about the war, he would sometimes tell stories of when the sub was under attack and they thought they were never coming home.
Few people know that my Grandfather was also a civilian on the maiden voyage of the USS Nautilus, the first Nuclear powered submarine. My grandfather made a living building submarines and supported a large and loving family with that career.
He was also an avid golfer! One year on opening day of a Connecticut golf course, he put his ball on the Tee, swung and nailed a hole in one! It doesn't get much better than that.
Grandpa showed us how to crab and clam at the Latimer Point. He would take us out fishing on the Kelly Girl and skiing and kneeboarding in the Brown Betty.
During the winter, when he and Grandma were down in Florida, we would always get huge boxes filled with Oranges and Grapefruit. Grandpa would always tease and say that he went out and picked them himself!
Grandpa always had his secret stash of snickers and Breyers ice cream in the freezer. Everyone knew just where to look for his "secret stash"
He even was a Christmas Tree cutter - one year he let Mike and I cut a Christmas Tree down from the Uncasville home and he put it in the back of his Mazda truck and didn't tie it down, so it ended up in the middle of 395!! Somehow he got the tree back in the truck and safely installed in the tree stand at our house!
The best part of having such a wonderful Grandfather is his well placed birthday! Every year in August, my family celebrated "National Lobster Day" where my Grandmother would buy a literal ton of Lobsters and we would feast the entire day. I am so happy that Ryan and I were able to bring the kids to experience Lobster Day last year. Of course it was Grandpa's 85th Birthday and it was the best one!
I have so many wonderful memories of my Grandfather and he has had a huge influence on who I am today. I just wanted to share a little piece of him with all of you.
Grandpa at Lobster Day! Happy 85th Birthday!
Grandma and Grandpa on their wedding day!
50th Anniversary Photo
50th Anniversary photo with their children.
60th Anniversary Photo (notice what they are wearing!)
Grandma and Grandpa created the greatest place on earth - yes, even better than Disneyland! They created Latimer Point and it was the place that always made everyone the happiest!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Multnomah Falls
The day after Christmas, we decided to go for a drive! The city and the highway's were pretty much shut down during the snow storm and this was one of the first days that all the roads were open and passable. So we took the drive out I-84 towards the Gorge and after 15 miles of clean, dry pavemant we were suddenly in 4 inches of hard slush. It made for a white-knuckle 5 mile drive. It was pretty crazy to be going 65 miles an hour on the highway and then looking off to the side and wondering why everyone is pulled over. Then you suddenly realize, the highway has not been plowed! I have NEVER seen anything like it before. But the trip was well worth it, the falls were beautiful, it is very rare that they freeze over like this.
Christmas 2008!!
Santa was very good to the boys this year, there were all sorts of presents. The big presents were the Lego's this year. Liam and Tyler really like the dinosaur legos!!
Here is Tyler's big present from Santa - Santa was very lucky to be able to find this for him!!!
Here is Tyler's big present from Santa - Santa was very lucky to be able to find this for him!!!
Christmas Cookies!
This year for Christmas, we had a very special treat! Not only did we have 1 1/2 feet of snow, we had lots of family come and visit. Grandma Michel, Aunt Shirley, Nana and Papa came up from Austin. Here they all are on Christmas Eve making cookies for Santa and his Reindeer!!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Zoolights!!
Every year around Christmas we go to Zoolights. They string lights (LED- of course) on just about every inch of the zoo. Luckily we went this year on a really nice night, it was about 50 degrees out, so we got to take our time and look at all the lights. We even got to see the baby elephant!!
Tyler and Liam had a good time looking at everything, too!!
Hopefully, I will have Christmas done in the next couple of posts!!!
Tyler and Liam had a good time looking at everything, too!!
Hopefully, I will have Christmas done in the next couple of posts!!!
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