The 4th of July was Dad’s Day to Shine

We’re getting ready for the 4th of July here.  It was a big holiday with our family growing up and maybe our favorite holiday of the year.  We used to go to Glorietta Bay in Coronado, rent a hotel room, gorge on candy and watch the fireworks when it was all said and done.  It was Dad’s best holiday and one where he could go to the extreme in a big way.

We were always so excited and it was a holiday that my dad planned for us all.  Some of my best memories growing up were getting sun-burned in the pool, ordering 45 hamburgers from McDonalds through the drive through, going through Von’s with Dad and dumping box after box of candy and junk food into the cart while he said, “go for it my man”.  We could not believe our good fortune. We were Chula Vista kids going to Coronado and acting like spoiled millionaires in a hotel.  Dad loved it.  We loved it too.

This is one of the many cars that dad collected in his later years.  He had probably amassed $20,000 to $30,000 in old replica cars from the Franklin mint.  Just another thing he did in a big way. This was my favorite so I keep it on the mantle above the fireplace.  I took it down today to take a picture and remember him.