17 Comments
Apr 11Liked by Deborah Way

"His possessions displayed in a musty garage as though it were a tag sale"--this is heartbreaking. But your dad's optimism shines through.

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Yes❤️

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Apr 11Liked by Deborah Way

I love the lists of photos and objects and finally the find. The imagination you share with a whimsical optimist.

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❤️❤️❤️

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Apr 11Liked by Deborah Way

I love your Dad! Thank you for sharing his joyful spirit.

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❤️❤️❤️

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The Keepthings is one of the most reliably profound publications I've ever found: Short, sharp, sometimes shocking.

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❤️❤️❤️

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I was immediately intrigued by your post, but confused by the date on your dad’s bank. The Century of Progress world’s fair in Chicago was held in 1933-34. I’m working on a middle grade adventure book based on my grandfather’s experiences at that fair and have done extensive research. After doing some checking I figure the bank must’ve been a promo from the Illinois booth at the 1939 fair in New York. Thank you for sharing this story. I don’t have any mementos from my grandpa’s many visits to the 1933 fair, but it was so much fun to see and read about how you discovered your dad’s bank. Don’t you just love all the deco motifs and the artwork? He loved amusement parks and I think his boyhood visits to the fair inspired him to take us grandkids to both Disneyland and Disney World (every spring break in the ‘70’s) when we were kids.

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Love this! Thanks for sharing your memories of your beloved father!

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❤️❤️❤️

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Apr 11Liked by Deborah Way

Another heartbreaking and heartwarming story. So many parallels to my Dad. The world’s fair was often mentioned and remembered but he had no keepsakes and most of his belongings are still in his home, watched over by my beloved stepmother. I can’t imagine being forced to go through them in 3 hours shortly after a traumatic loss.

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I love that you have a beloved stepmother ❤️

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Apr 11Liked by Deborah Way

I love that you have his treasured bank and yet mysteries still reside within it.

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Such a great metaphor for any parent; always the mysteries within ❤️

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Apr 11Liked by Deborah Way

I cannot fathom what you went through but the memories of "sleuthing" on your parents things is familiar and something I did as a child prior to a basement flood taking almost everything. I am glad you have the remembrances and now the items to make them completely vivid for you. You memories and photos show your Dad's playful spirit and know he lives on thru you.

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Thank you for reading 💓💓💓

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