My Dad was a hard worker, a lineman, and my Mom often tried to explain why he was not home sometimes, or why I couldn’t wake him up and play with him during the day after he came home from working all night. Basically a lineman in the 1960’s and 70’s was like a cowboy of the 20th century. Powerlines needed to be built everywhere, always on the road, and when not, always on call, ready to hit the road when powerlines and transformers needed fixing.

I remember her dreading the stormy nights, and the inevitable phone calls late in the evening, and watching him put on his boots before going into the dark windy and rainy night.

He worked hard, and played hard. I remember parties at our house, dancing, card games, arm wrestling contests (my Dad always won). Lot’s of friends and relatives that visited, and we visited. Many were lineman, one couple was Joe and Pauline. Pauline was my Mom’s best friend for most of her life. Joe (another lineman) was my Dad’s.

My Mom was always proud of my dad, sometimes spoke of him like he was the greatest man alive, and I believed her – still do. I have some crazy pics and film of him high up on towers and poles. I remember my mom often joked about how he couldn’t walk through our hallway without knocking down pictures, yet somehow survived hundreds of feet in the air on a 3 inch steel beam.

I have to say though, with all her worrying about him, she sure loved those OT checks he would bring home. She handled all the finances in the family. Yep, I remember paychecks, bringing home the bacon in those days was pretty awarding – usually a friday, and he’d get a humongous hug and kiss before an always delicious dinner. Unlike today, with direct deposit there is no feeling of that, the only time my wife Kelly mentions my pay is when there is a missing expense report 😉

Speaking of dinner, my Mom became a very good cook, she learned the best from my Grandma. I guess however, my dad was less than complementary in the early days, and since Grandma was often around though, she was more than willing to hand over the duties when she could.

Towards the end of the 60’s we sold our house and moved to South Pasadena. It wasn’t long though, before we moved out of San Gabriel Valley altogether.

In 1970 we bought a new house (not built yet) on 19352 McLaren Ln, in Huntington Beach, CA. This was Orange County, when there were still a few oranges around I think. Didn’t matter, the beach was only 1.5 miles away. This picture is in front of the HB house.

I remember during those days my Grandma moved in with us.

I also remember my mom’s dad coming to visit for a week from Boston. I thought he was hilarious. He made chili (the best i ever had) and joked about Californians. He had a pretty colorful life, grew up in Worchestor MA, a merchant marine as a young boy, and a boxer (thus went by the name of Nuxsey), he also ran a bar I think. He was pure east coast, and I remember my Mom was very happy he was there.