I got to sit and reminisce with my grandpa Gary, Peggy Rheault (and Uncle Larry Goodenough) on the phone this afternoon about my dad... there are so many memories to talk about but here are a few... August 21st 1959 about 6am... Brett Dewitt Goodenough was born. Madison, Wisconsin at the Methodist Hospital on W.Washington Ave.... he was the oldest of 6 children... he attended elementary school in Wisconsin, junior high at James Rutter in south sac, and attended and graduated from Elk Grove High.... while in middle school and high school he played baseball.. (I had no idea, until Uncle Larry told me) he actually was in a little league and major league but responsibility took over so he did not pursue further. (Maybe thats why he had so many mits and baseballs) he worked at Eppies restaurant as a prep cook for ROTC.... During the same time he worked at the cafeteria with my grandfather, covering shifts and helping any way he could. The day after he graduated from high school he got on a bus to Wisconsin to stay with his grandpa Harold for a little while... I remember him referring to that time in many conversations. The time he got to spend with his grandpa... Good memories from that trip but he also stated that in that time there he had to do the worst thing he ever had to do in his whole life... his grandpa had diabetes and became disoriented and was unable to care for himself. So my dad had to testify that his own grandpa was incapable of caring for himself and needed to be put in a nursing home... I remember dad saying the look in his grandpas eyes he will never forget... but because of love they got through that bump in the road and stayed close...(sometimes we have to make choices that arent easy but best) that following year dad returned to California. .. closer to family... along the way he met my mom (Sandy Williams) at Viking... I was told that they met as dock workers? A Hustler and a Lumpur? (Correct me if Im wrong mom) they married and lived in West Sac where they had Daniel Goodenough, then to Citrus Heights where they had me :) somewhere in there dad worked for a newspaper company delivering newspapers. .. around that time he met Rip Wrinkle( Amanda Wrinkle Tull Beverly Wrinkle) and Rick N Audie Bohling who introduced him to Bro Geurin and church.... (people whom I have tagged are all people who had a part in my up bringing and this part of my life... and appreciate very much) we had so many memories from falling asleep on the church pew to family (framily) bbqs at the bohlings... where we came close to Kimberley Massey Wynona Curtis, dion bohing ( Sonya Bohling is now his wife and a very good friend of mine) Luana Claborn, Ben Jimenez, toons ;), willy and roxi Jimenez... soooo many fun memories! There are so many more people I could name (maybe next walk down memory lane ;) ).... Dad worked at Aramark Laundry, CSI Crown... I remember riding along with him in his diesel.... he would put an egg crate for the passenger seat with his jacket on top... hed bring his big rig home for us to help wash.... sometimes he would have to do over nighters or long routes and Grandpa Gary became a huge part of our lives... Dad wouldnt be at the house sometimes in the morning for breakfast so grandpa would do as much as he could but did would tell us we had to have hot breakfast before school... I hated it! I would get so mad that I had to have oatmeal every day! Well its funny now because my kids say the same thing! Mom why do we have to have hot breakfast every day! (Thanks dad) while he was a truck driver and away for work we always had a CB radio hooked up and working in the dining room. So when he got close enough we could talk with him on it... Uncle Lance (Dawn Massey Goodenough) would also talk to us on the CB.. I remember dads handle was counselor I think Uncle Lances was pink catillac or purple catillac? (Am I close Uncle Lance?) And mine was AngelKiss did you have one daniel?.... I remember he always had a recliner (most of the time worn out and broken) he would read in, nap in. Mostly Sunday afternoon naps I remember him in it after a big Sunday Lunch. (That is why his recliner that now sits n my living room is so special) Dad met Belinda Goodenough (bendi) at church camp paradise through a snotty nosed, tangled hair, mischievous little girl (me.. she was my counselor). They married shortly after and we all had to grow to be a new kind of family.. a kind not known by many, where the parents communicated and eventually with patience, time, prayer and lots of maturity... became friends.... we have a large family with or without a blood connection we r family... (I am still in aw of what great examples all of my parents have set by doing what they did to make it all work) Dad wore many hats and carried a few more jobs along the way... Overnight, All Data and started a job at RT... but was rudely interrupted. ... Yesterday my little family made dessert and took it to the cemetery in honour of dads bday... while we were there, there was an older gentleman that we have seen and chatted with a few times now.. he takes care of the most beautiful flowers his garden for his mother, father, sister and brother. .. his mother only ever wanted for a garden so he keeps one alive for her... every time I see him he says old traditions die hard but they really dont die alive all . A really neat man who makes me think every time I see him... Im reminded that my dad could talk to and would talk to anyone who would let him... we opened the door to this little friendship and he blesses me every time I see him. He loves seeing family together and it makes him smile just like he makes us smile..... I dont know why things happen the way they do but if we can continue to look up and see what and who is around us we can continue to move forward.... If u were named in this post or read it and this post made you think of a story or memory PLEASE leave a comment... me and others would love to read them.... Thank u :) Happy Bday dad from all of us... Thank u for all of the memories that we get to cherish and talk about now....
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 03:58:40 +0000
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