My parents

May 2016

Father's Day

1983

Westward ho!

Last August, the kids and I flew out to California to visit my parents.  We had so much fun that we decided to do it again, and this time we took Seth.

Our flight to Los Angeles was delayed due to mechanical issues.  Normally this would be a bad thing, but it gave us time to go visit my friend, Cathy.

She works in one of the towers at Denver International Airport. 

The view from the tower is spectacular... 

and it's even better from the catwalk! 

This one would have stayed out there all day. 

Even for someone like me who is not particularly interested in airplanes.... 

this was an enjoyable way to spend the morning! 

Eventually, however, we had to return to the terminal.  We were flying on buddy passes and the flight was full, but somehow we all managed to board the plane.  Hurray! 

 We arrived at LAX...

and took a stinky van to Union Station.  We were all hungry, so we bought sandwiches and ate outside in one of the little courtyards. 

It wasn't long before our lunch attracted a whole flock...

of beggars!

They may look sweet and innocent but don't be fooled. 

These birds... 

are persistent... 

and aggressive! 

When all the food had been consumed, we boarded a train headed towards Memere and Grandpa's house.  Yay!

August 2013

Happy birthday...

to my handsome father!

Happy Father's Day!

1983

We three

November 2011

California fireworks

July 2011

Dad and I on the patio

Another one from Colleen.  

1972?

(Almost) Forty years ago

This time I know that the little one is Erin!

July 1971

Christmas 1969

Another old one.  Thanks, Colleen!

December 1969

Oldie but goodie

Tom Bray II posted this picture on Facebook. Of course I had to copy it. This is Dad and his sister Ada and brother Lisle in 1936.

Bad dad

Happy Birthday!

The L.A. Zoo in '92

Although I don't actually remember doing so, there is photographic evidence that my parents and I visited the Los Angeles Zoo in January 1992.I took far less pictures on that trip than I did yesterday,

and most of the pictures I did take are pretty boring.I do, however, like this picture of mom peering through an observation dome.Here's Dad doing the same thing.I think this is where Ryan gets it from!Much better!

Mesa Verde

Here are some pictures from the Colorado portion of Mom and Dad's 1990 roadtrip. They visited me at my summer job at Lake Mancos Ranch in the southwestern corner of the state. That area is home to a Navajo reservation and lots of old Anasazi ruins, including Mesa Verde National Park where these pictures were taken.Two views of Cliff Palace.Mom and Dad walking down the steep steps to Cliff Palace.Dad inspects the ruins.Mom and Dad inside a Kiva.The ladder up to Balcony House.

Dad and I at Cliff Palace.

Who is that mustached man?

I really want to take the kids to Mesa Verde now that they're old enough (I think!) to handle the stairs and ladders. Maybe sometime this summer...

Tom and Jeanne's excellent adventure

In May 1990, my friends Trish and Russ and I set out on a big roadtrip. We drove from Colorado to California then up the coast to Canada. We travelled Canada 1 east through British Columbia and Alberta. Finally we headed back south to Yellowstone and eventually, Colorado. Two months later my copycat parents went on almost the exact same roadtrip. The only difference was they went further east and drove south through the Dakotas rather than Montana and Wyoming. Mom sent me these pictures from their trip. The captions are hers, not mine.

"Me in Bray, CA"
"Dad""A resident of Banff""Mt Rushmore, SD"

"The buffalo who lures in tourists in Jamestown, ND"

"This is the school in Fargo where Dad went to first grade. It's now used for retarded kids. Was it always?" (Mean Mom!!)