Right off I want to tell you that the really cute little boy in the center is really me! It is my favorite because I think it captures the innocent, happy, and optimistic little guy that is still inside me! I basically love being alive and usually enjoy what is happening!

That is Mom playing with our dog Boots. You will see her again tomorrow in her wedding picture. See my Mother’s day tribute to her at http://www.pbase.com/image/28785381, which pretty much tells how I feel about her.

That sketch above Mom is Dad. The caricature was drawn during WW II where he served as a Major in the Army Air Corps overseeing physical training at Lowry and Buckley Fields. . You will see him again tomorrow (of course silly, in the wedding photo). Dad (J. Juan Reid) was larger than life. Not just to me … to all who knew him. He was full of joie de vie, LOVED to tell stories (mostly about old football or basketball victories), laughed a lot, and worked very hard all his life. He was a coach, athletic director, dean, alumni director, and historian for 44 years all at his alma mater Colorado College. The young men who he shepherded at the school adored him for all the things he did to help them succeed.

At CC the young athlete met a beauty queen, Margaret Killian. They married in 1935 in the depths of the depression and the only way he could afford to take her on a honeymoon was to bring her along on a scouting trip! (Hmmm… interesting... both of my honeymoons were connected to business trips too!)

Naturally, I see a lot of him in me today (even some of the parts I had trouble with back then – huge blush).

Dad was also a chess fanatic and that is why I’ve been using chess pieces as symbols in this series. The pawn here indicates I was just a little guy during this period. Not much power.

We lived all our lives in Colorado Springs (notice the picture of Pikes Peak) except for the war years when we were in Denver. That is my sister Judy and brother John (on the bike) along with me showing off our Christmas presents in 1945. John was the ‘baby’ in the family and was four years younger than I. Judy and I were close in age and she had a huge impact on my upbringing. (I.E. She taught me to write left-handed even though I am right handed!)

As mentioned yesterday, our childhoods were idyllic. I have nothing but fond memories of those early years.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. We will celebrate my 67th and complete this series.