Charlie Logan, RIP, 1929 - 2000
I live in a yellow house in Longmont, Colorado. I can see the foothills of the Rocky Mountains from my upstairs front windows.
Today, November 9, is my Dad's Birthday. Dad died this past summer. Dad's favorite color was yellow. We always had yellow bathrooms and kitchens in our house when I was growing up. The man had great rhetoric and charisma. I loved staying up late with him after my Mum had gone to bed. He talked and talked and talked and I listened. I love those memories. The stories were always about family. Often about me and my high jinks as a wild toddler. Dad liked to laugh when he was telling me a story. He slapped his thighs, and his dentures wobbled as he grinned with delight. The man loved a punchline. One favorite story featured me at 2 or 3 years old. Dad was sitting in his fireside chair reading the newspaper. Rover, our lovely black and white border collie lay at his feet. I was playing on the floor too. Dad noticed Rover being snappy with me. Each time he saw Rover snap, he folded up his newspaper and clipped Rover on the end of his nose. This went on a wee while. Rover snapping at me and Dad smacking his nose with the newspaper. Then Dad sneaked a peek round his newspaper. "What did ah see, Elaine? You. Pulling Rover's tail. Tormenting the puir dog!"
Today, November 9, is my Dad's Birthday. Dad died this past summer. Dad's favorite color was yellow. We always had yellow bathrooms and kitchens in our house when I was growing up. The man had great rhetoric and charisma. I loved staying up late with him after my Mum had gone to bed. He talked and talked and talked and I listened. I love those memories. The stories were always about family. Often about me and my high jinks as a wild toddler. Dad liked to laugh when he was telling me a story. He slapped his thighs, and his dentures wobbled as he grinned with delight. The man loved a punchline. One favorite story featured me at 2 or 3 years old. Dad was sitting in his fireside chair reading the newspaper. Rover, our lovely black and white border collie lay at his feet. I was playing on the floor too. Dad noticed Rover being snappy with me. Each time he saw Rover snap, he folded up his newspaper and clipped Rover on the end of his nose. This went on a wee while. Rover snapping at me and Dad smacking his nose with the newspaper. Then Dad sneaked a peek round his newspaper. "What did ah see, Elaine? You. Pulling Rover's tail. Tormenting the puir dog!"
Charlie Logan was a local politician - a Labour Party Councillor in Rosyth, Scotland. Two hundred people came to his funeral. He made a difference in the small hamlet of Rosyth. People remembered how he helped them get what they needed. Charlie was that kinda guy. People lined up around the street corner, my Mum said.
My daughter and I went home to Scotland. I got the phone call that he was ill. He was so glad to see us. It meant a lot to him. You could see that. He cried when we left - this man never cried in his life. We got to spend two weeks with him before we needed to go back to the US because of my work.
When he died I was working at Spectra Logic in Boulder. I remember the big bouquet of flowers they sent to my house. Yes, I still remember the smell of the lilies and the chrysanthemums and the rich warm color.
They were all yellow.
My daughter and I went home to Scotland. I got the phone call that he was ill. He was so glad to see us. It meant a lot to him. You could see that. He cried when we left - this man never cried in his life. We got to spend two weeks with him before we needed to go back to the US because of my work.
When he died I was working at Spectra Logic in Boulder. I remember the big bouquet of flowers they sent to my house. Yes, I still remember the smell of the lilies and the chrysanthemums and the rich warm color.
They were all yellow.
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| Dad at work. He was a great painter & decorator |
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