Happy Father's Day!

I spent my 30th birthday in the funeral home, receiving family and friends.
My dad died one day before his 54th birthday. How I miss Eddie Teener as my loving parent. You can tell where I get my curly hair!

On my 25th birthday, I was living in California and he in Ohio. I received a letter from him stating, "Twenty-five years ago today I went to a phone booth and called your grandmother and said, "I got my girl." You see my brother, Charles, had been born 2 1/2 years earlier, and my parents were hoping for a girl.

Now, all was not totally rosy as I was growing up. I always thought my dad was way too strict as a Sicilian father! I had always wished I came from a big family where I was not so much the center of attention. He really did spoil me in a lot of ways, however. If I was ever sick, he would bring me magazines and gifts to cheer me. Is it any wonder I had about six colds a year!

Transition to years later when I didn't understand why my hubby didn't make a big fuss over my ailments. So, it's not always mothers who spoil it for their sons' wives!

I liked having a father who was a musician, although in elementary school I would list my dad's profession as "magician." I got my love of music from him and my mom, who wanted to be a singer but was discouraged by her mom, because "nice girls didn't go into show business." So, my mom did the next best thing and married a guitarist.

They say a father gives his little girl self esteem. My father was constantly teaching me about how to get along in life. He taught me to set my goals high. However, I relied so much on his advice that it took me a while to have confidence in making my own decisions once I finally did leave home after college.

So on Father's Day, even though there's sadness in being without him for so many years, I feel very blessed for having had such a wonderful dad.

Nostalgic Radio Show

We first met John and Larry Gassman years ago when they were recommended to us. You see, we had a 15 1/2-inch vinyl disc, which was a studio recording of my dad, whose professional name was Eddie Teener, when he was on the radio, WHKK, from Akron, OH, with his band.

We had never heard it played, because we couldn't find anyone who had the right equipment to do so. Well, these two, John and Larry, who happened to be twins and happened to be blind from birth, had just the right stuff to help us.

I was amazed, walking into their studio, to see the hundreds of vinyl records stacked neatly in cabinets on either side of the room with no visible markings on them. How in the world did they know what was what! Well, they had their own system. I found out later there are actually 20,000 reel tapes of old radio programs as well.

John and Larry host the program, "Same Time Same Station, where nostalgic radio shows are heard on Yesterday USA at live365.com. The shows are posted at vintageradioplace.com. Check out their website to learn more about these interesting men, who are not only passionate about radio drama but also barbershop.

Oh yes, back to our project...Larry and John told us that these studio recordings were played "from the outside in." Who knew? We're so happy we found them. Local announcements of garden shows, announced by townspeople reflect the format of the times. The recording of my dad's band that we now have on cd is a real treasure.