i am going to use blurb.com and slurp our blog into a book for publishing. when you get a chance please add some memories or happy thoughts you have about dad to add to the book before i send it in for printing. i mean, do it in the next few weeks.
thanks janelle
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Posted by cobrakaidojo at 7:55 PM
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One of my most recent/fun memories of Uncle Bob is when he and Tom stopped by our house to show us the new convertible. They had been driving around with the top off, crusing Clearwater, had just been through DQ, and were blaring some 60's music (I think it was 60's) and stopped by our house to say hi and show us the car! They were both so cute, two brothers just crusing around on a warm Friday night in Kennewick Wa with huge smiles on their faces!!! I loved it! I love Uncle Bob and will miss him a lot. We love you guys!
My most recent memory of Uncle Bob was when he came down to Brett's wedding. Uncle Bob and I were talking about deep political and business ideas, and he was giving me some advice on my businesses.
Part of his advice was "Remember, the transaction is not complete until the receivable has been collected."
I remember thinking that night that it was so good to get advice from my uncle. He was such a good listener and a thoughtful responder. He was someone that was my same blood, but a different voice then my parents. It made me wish that I had lived closer to my Uncles and Aunts when I was growing up.
I was so grateful that he came down to Bretts wedding and that he spent the time that he did with me. I love you guys!
Janelle,
As I think of things, I'll try to add them. Here's a few:
I came to Kennewick last summer and went to a stake dance to help Dad chaperone and to watch Evan's band play. Dad actually asked me to dance and we had a "Daddy-Daughter" dance in the middle of the gym with teenagers all around us. I don't ever remember him dancing--but I'm so glad he decided to live it up that night!
I remember when we lived in Kennewick when I was little, Dad played for his ward's basketball team. They played in the regional tournament finals and Dad scored the 3-point shot that won the game. I remember sitting in the stands and being so excited! I also remember one of Dad's teammates, Doug Carlisle, telling me that he could have kissed Dad for making that shot. It was very exciting and fun to watch for me.
I loved it when Dad would call me on the phone at odd times of the day or night. Without saying "hello," he would just start into the phone conversation with something like "Grandma and I are on the way to Montana" or "I'm off to see Amy's race" or something similar. He called me whenever he was on a road trip and it was fun to hear from him at those random times.
I'm grateful for the man my dad is. Dad and mom were so encouraging when it came to my running opportunities. Even though I quit basketball, which is dad's passion, he learned to love running and was always proud of me. Dad was there at every meet in high school. In college when he wasn't there he called me before the race asking,"Are you nervous?" I would respond, "yes of course." He replied, "Don't be. Just be tough and compete." Then he would call me on my cell phone only minutes after my race. He wanted to know exactly how it went and he was even interested in how my team mates did. Everytime I'd talk to him on the phone after a race he wanted to know EXACTLY what my coach said about my race, literally word for word. There were also times in high school where he would follow me around the house after I did poorly in a race or a basketball game. I vividly remember him poking his head in my room and asking,"what happended? Where was your head?" At the time I was annoyed because I wanted to be left alone, I was mad enough. But he still kept coming in trying to figure out what went wrong. It wasn't until later that I came to realize that he just wanted me to succeed in my sports endeavors. He was trying to help me along. But I always got encouragement from him.
When he traveled to some of my college races he brought his binoculars with him. I was glad when my mom came too because they were both there to build up my confidence. One of the last races I ran was in Portland. Mom and Dad came and it was one of the best races I ever had in college. I distinctly remember seeing them both at the finish line clapping me in at the end of the race. They were leaning over towards me as I passed yelling for me to finish strong. I wanted to make them proud so I kicked hard the last 100 meters. I even remeber thinking as I was sprinting in, "Dad looks kind of silly in those suspenders."
Amy it will continue
There were many summer nights where dad and I would sit out on the front lawn with Montana and just talk. He always said, "I enjoy the cool breeze on my face." So everytime we'd drive in the car he'd have the window rolled down and his arm hanging out the side. He always loved the wind in his face.
Before Riley and I were engaged I was home for Christmas. I was nervous because I wanted to let my dad know that I felt it was right for me to marry him. I was afraid of his reaction but I proceeded to tell him. Even though he was probably a little scared he responded by telling me to continually pray about it and that it was my decision. He always liked Riley. In the last month before he passed away. We were emailing each other back and forth at work. In one of the emails he wrote, "Riley is a good man." That's all he said in that one email.I never doubted that he liked Riley but it was nice to know my father cared for the man that took care of me.
My dad always liked the friends I hung out with. My friends like him too. They always enjoyed the comments he made to them. One time my friend Danielle Kessie and I were coming home late one evening. Her car was at my house so I brought her back there. As I pulled up the unlit driveway the lights flashed on the house and dad suddenly appeared out of the darkness with his arms folded. He wasn't mad he just wanted to be there at our arrival. He frequently did that when he knew exactly when I'd be home. Danielle Kessie always mentioned that moment and thought it was hilarious.
I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to be with him on Father's Day a couple days before he passed away. I was able to give him a hug and tell him what a great father he is.
Amy
(Amy continued)
I have the hope and faith that because of Christ through the atonement and resurrection I will see my dad again. I will be able to embrace him and speak to him again. We miss him now but can cling to the memories we have of him. We have the opportunity to be in this life to learn and grow but if we continue to live in righteousness we have the promise that we'll be together as a family forever. We will see him again and
that's what we should always remember. This separation is only temporary. Thank you dad for always being a worthy priesthood holder. Thank you for constantly telling us what a wonderful mother we have. Thank you for telling us how much you adored her because it will be an example to me on how I should love and respect my spouse. I love you!
Amy
Hi Janelle -- I hope all is well with you and your family. We are thinking of you daily and we had a good visit with your mom the other day on the phone. Let me give you some thoughts that I have about your Dad.
I was definitely Bob’s little brother. Not only in size, but when Bob began making a name for himself in sports, they knew me as Bob’s little brother. At an early age, Bob led the league in homeruns…………I could bunt and hit some singles, but no power. Bob played football, I ran cross country. I golfed and Bob played tennis. We did share in basketball , however. When I was a junior, Bob got hurt and the coach asked me to step in and start two games in his place and keep the other leading scorer from getting the ball. Bob was leading the league in scoring and I took this on as an assignment that would help him. I worked hard and wouldn’t give up in hounding the guys I was guarding. I remember as a team we would have a moment of silence to say a prayer or whatever before each game….……………I used to pray that Bob would have a good game because I knew a scholarship in basketball would help out mom and dad financially.
When I was a senior, the first games of the year were held in Richland at a jamboree of four teams. We beat Richland, which Kennewick never did back then, in fact it was the first time in 17 years that a Kennewick varsity basketball team beat Richland. In the paper, they wrote me up as Bob’s little brother. As the season went on, they finally accepted me as Denny.
I was very proud of Bob. He was my big brother and a great athlete and even as homecoming King, I remember thinking he was pretty cool. We didn’t hang out much as he had his friends and I had mine. But he was good to me and made sure no one treated me badly at school. We he went to Ricks, that was the beginning of not seeing him much. When he came back, he went to Germany and then I went to Ontario, Canada before he got home. We didn’t see each other for about four years. He married your mom while I was on my mission. When I got back from my mission , we did share a class or two at BYU together and we were also on a basketball team together…..that was lots of fun.
We had some good discussions about religion and politics over the years. You guys were so far away in New Jersey, but it was nice to come and visit you one time. I think You and Jenn even came in to the City and we ate at Mickey Mantle’s and walked around for a while. Even though I was down here in California, we would talk often on the phone. He got pretty excited about the “leftist liberals” and liked to talk about how wrong they were. With Mitt Romney in the presidential race in 2008, he got really involved. We talked about that a lot. It was fun to have the Bob Blodgett family down in California for about a year or so. We did some fun things together……………I coached Mike and Chad in their basketball team. Bob helped out. We went to the amusement parks and the beach and I think the cousins enjoyed being together. All of you were still pretty young.
As I have thought about Bob constantly over these last few weeks, I still look forward to the day that we can visit again and discuss how things have turned out with regard to the gospel and the knowledge we were privileged to have here on Earth. What a blessing we have compared to so many that are looking for answers to their questions. And it will be a happy time where we won’t have to worry about so many things that we think about daily today………....money, jobs, kids, health, relationships, etc. I certainly believe he is happy right now and that he has had good visits with Dad and grandma and grandpa and Violet, Clara, Howard, Donny, Pud, and Clint and Eva Evans to name a few. Even two of our cousins, Mark and Rita that died as little kids, will be fun for your Dad to see and get to know.
As a Bishop, I conducted 15 funerals. They are very difficult experiences to go through. But each one of them have strengthened my testimony and my resolve to be a better person, be true to covenants I have made, and do all that I can to keep myself in line with what the Savior would want me to do so that I will have the privilege to see all of my family again some day. I don’t want to take the chance for that not to happen. It is most difficult for those left here on Earth. Especially for your mom. But time does pass………..death is only a temporary separation……………and we will all be together again. Eternity is a very long time. It never ends. The few years here on Earth will be just a dot in time compared to what could be in store for us forever. You did a good job on the reunion in Idaho. It was so nice to see everyone there. Especially now that Bob is gone. When he came down here for Brett’s wedding, it was nice to see him and be around him for a couple of days. I will remember our talks for a very long time. And we have some nice video of the dinner and the Oakland Temple.
Bob was a good brother and still is a good brother. I look forward to seeing him again someday. I love him and have always been proud of him. He and Debbie have raised, and are continuing to raise, a wonderful family. I was proud of each of them as I witnessed the days surrounding the funeral services. The strength of our church is the strength of each individual family. The Bob Blodgett’s showed us all how strong they really are.
Take care Janelle. I hope this was okay. Not that many stories, just a lot of rambling.
Denny
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