I'm pretty sure I post the same photos over and over again - at least each year on Dad's birthday. And I'm pretty sure I tell the same stories each year too. So I've tried to think of some different ones - although, if I didn't tell the same stories, I wouldn't be a true Clayton!!
A fave photo of my mom and dad - and it wouldn't be Dad without Mom, now would it??
Dad was proud to be the father of 6 sons. He was proud to be the father of 6 daughters too, but I think he felt more comfortable with the idea of sons, because he had only had brothers. He did have a half-sister, but she didn't enter his life until he was already married. He always loved and appreciated her though.
And in true Clayton fashion, he was a snappy dresser - always had nice suits, shiny shoes, and spiffy ties.
He loved his numerous progeny - and especially enjoyed all of his grandkids. I think my favorite grandchildren story is about how when Tom and Leslie lived next door, Joey, who was small then, called my dad "Bob' - after all, he heard my mother call him Bob all the time. It was pretty funny to hear him addressing Dad as Bob.
Although he never grew up with sisters, my dad pretty much doted on his daughters. The way I remember it, he could scold and get after us, but it took a different tone than he took with the boys. That may be a problem for my brothers, but that's how it was. I think he had women on a pedestal - his daughters included. My favorite story on this front is the way he would say, "No daughter of mine would go out of the house wearing mascara." And of course, I wore mascara all the time!! He may have doted, but I guess he couldn't tell when you were wearing mascara!!
This is a never-before-published shot of my mom with Noah - and my dad is there in the background. It's Christmas 1987. What I like about it is my mom's hair. But I digress.
With all the Clayton Reunion photos I've published all year, you have seen this before, but it's got to be the quintessential Dad!!
Dad - and Mom - were eager to be grandparents - and Bonny did not disappoint them. Dad remembered his grandkids, their names and other details. Mom does too - it's pretty amazing when you think about the numbers!!
My favorite story on this front is the time Eliza grabbed a curling iron and burned her hand. She was only about 20 months old at the time. My folks had just arrived, so my dad took her and carried her around the block until her tears subsided, undoubtedly telling her soothing stories as they walked.
Here's a shot of Mom and Dad just before they left on their mission. Uncle Paul is in the background. I've published photos of Dad and his brothers, and Paul especially was a pivotal figure in Dad's life. Chatting with Byron this summer was very revealing - someday I want to record in writing the notes I took - but for now, suffice it to say that family dynamics are convoluted - and far-reaching in their effects.
Even as he aged, Dad could always enjoy a birthday celebration. His favorite cake was a Banana Cream Cake, but he didn't complain if that wasn't what you made. And he always liked to tell you that Paul preferred a lemon pie on his birthday - he usually mentioned this in the same breath as he lauded the virtues of Banana Cream Pie!
I know this is the way you younger kids remember my dad - when I look at these photos of my dad in such a diminished capacity, I am impressed anew at the way he "did not go gentle into that good night."
The Rogers were really good friends of my parents. I don't think I realized until I was much older just how important their friendship was. I think I thought my parents lived in a vacuum or something - that they did not have a life outside of being our parents. I think all kids think that of their parents.
Grandma Connie was a great addition to our family - and my Dad loved her greatly.
I don't really remember my dad this way - but I can see the dad I knew in this photo. As children, we did not see many photos of our parents. Most of the old photos didn't come to my attention until I was an adult. Sometimes we think our parents emerged on this earth full grown - that they came when we did!!
What I think of in this photo is how my dad had this great hair that he combed back from his forehead. And he'd sit in a chair and let us brush and comb it. Frankly, sitting in a chair and having someone brush your hair is a real treat. No wonder he let us do it whenever we wanted to!! I'm sure he caught a nap or two while we worked away at playing hair stylists!
And I don't choose to remember Dad this way - but once again, I do admire the way he didn't succumb to the ravages of time willingly - he fought the good fight and kept the faith. At his death, he was a current temple recommend holder, even though he hadn't been able to go for several years.
And it certainly wouldn't be Dad's birthday if I didn't tell the story about how little Harry came rushing home from middle school, delighted to report that he'd gotten "Wilford Woodruff" for his U.S. President report for Dagne!!
And then when we got it straight that it was Woodrow Wilson, he began his report "On November 7, 1916, two important events happened in the United States. Woodrow Wilson was elected president of the United States. And my Grandpa Clayton was born."
My dad was born on November 7th, 1916 - the day that Woodrow Wilson was elected president of the United States. He usually told us that every year too.
(His report was on Woodrow Wilson!!) Later, when he wrote the report, he started it thusly: "Two important events happened on November 7, 1916: Woodrow Wilson was elected President of the United States, and my Grandpa Clayton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah." (He got an A too!)
I have nothing but good memories about my dad. I'm glad of that. I'm sure I disagreed with him on things. I'm sure I got frustrated with him. I'm perfectly happy to have forgotten them though!! After we moved back to California, Dad was retired, so he had time to make doll cradles and doll bunk beds, and other toys. He was always a craftsman. Those were some great years, before his health began to deteriorate. Even through the long slow decline, though, he was usually up for being part of things. And he kept telling his stories. I wish now I had paid more attention - I heard them my whole life, but that doesn't mean I remember them all!
When Tom and Leslie were living next door to Mom and Dad while Tom went to CSUN for pre-med, he apparently always heard Mom and Dad calling each other Bob and Mary, so Joey took to calling them Bob and Mary too. It was pretty funny.
On August 17, 1940, Bob and Mary Clayton were married in the Huntington Park Ward chapel. Then they drove to Salt Lake City and were sealed in the temple 3 days later. (Because it just wouldn't be okay for them to drive up there alone and not married!!)
Somehow in the process, I left out Dad and Phoebe. And that will never do. (I will blame fatigue - and the fact that I have a hard time remembering which photos I've loaded and which I haven't - and then when I read over the post the next day, I realize what I've left off!! No slight intended folks!! Phoebe and Dad had a special spot in Grandpa Clayton's heart too!)
A fave photo of my mom and dad - and it wouldn't be Dad without Mom, now would it??
Dad - and Mom - were eager to be grandparents - and Bonny did not disappoint them. Dad remembered his grandkids, their names and other details. Mom does too - it's pretty amazing when you think about the numbers!!
