In my family, I’m still known as Julie Rae, in the Southern Illinois tradition of calling everyone by both their first and middle names and making them sound like one word–”Joolierae.” I was named after my dad, Gary Ray. This is us, hanging out together back when I had a fondness for wearing bonnets and liked being carried everywhere.
By now you realize that I will use any excuse at all to post old photographs. What can I say? They make me happy. Like this one of my parents before they were parents:
Photos from the ’60s still look stylish and not the least bit embarrassing, unlike photos from the decades that followed. It’s so unfair that I met my husband in the late ’80s when I had giant mall hair and Dave was wearing oversized Don Johnson jackets with the sleeves rolled up. Someday our grandchildren will get a good laugh out of our misguided fashion sense.
This is another one of my favorite photos of my dad. It shows where he came from (I told you I was born in a single-wide trailer) and where he was determined to go. He was the first in the family to go to college, and he didn’t stop until he had his doctorate from the University of Cincinnati.
My dad is a minor celebrity in Christian circles. We can’t go anywhere without people recognizing him. If no one happens to recognize him when we walk into a place, they’re his new best friends by the time we leave. I don’t think he ever forgets a face or a name.
Since retiring from the church, Dad travels around the world speaking and teaching and is especially beloved in far-flung places like Norway and Singapore. I’m organizing his 70th birthday bash for later this month and the tributes are pouring in from around the globe. It’s pretty amazing to read how he has touched so many peoples’ lives over the years. It’s hard not to feel proud of having a dad like that!
But what means the most to me is that he’s such a good Pa Pa to his grandchildren.
Happy Father’s Day to my Dad, and all the others out there who love their families and take care of them every single day.
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Well Julie Rae, I am Janet Rae. In the North we just totally ignore our middle names. My Dad, ( the best Dad in the whole world) is Ray and my brother is Robert Ray. When we were little we used to think that my Mother’s name must be Ruth Ray. Why would she be the only one without Ray in her name? She just had her 91st Birthday on June 12th.
Janet
That picture of your dad and the kids is so beautiful. How lucky you are to be a preacher’s kid!!
Happy Father’s Day to him!
What a treasure to still have your dad. Mine is in Glory, but I wouldn’t bring him back if I could. He is where he wanted to be. He is whole now. No more sickness.
Your dad still has that beautiful smile. That hasn’t changed. He looks like the Lord has blessed him so much. He loves his life. You can see it in his eyes.
Lord bless,
Lynn
John 15
I enjoyed reading this so much! And bring on the vintage photos–I love them! What a thoughtful tribute to your pop. Will he adopt me?
Can I just say that I love your mom’s blue ruffle blouse? Does she perchance still have it?
And your patchwork dress!
Thank you for the link–I know you have been busy but I hope you can play!
What a great post…you are so lucky to still have your Dad !!!
Happy Father’s Day to Mr. Hooked on Houses.
Pill e ase of course I will tune in on Monday to check out your mess I mean blog….lol (it’s also my anniversary)
Have a great day tomorrow,
Kathy
My brother is McRay. He goes by Mac now.
..and Happy Father’s Day to Dave too!!
Dave says thanks for thinking of him since I neglected to mention him in this post. Ha. Don’t worry–he’s being celebrated around here this weekend. Lily and Jake made him all sorts of pictures and homemade cards telling him how much they love him.
We went out to dinner last night and celebrated Father’s Day early. One of the gifts I gave Dave was a Spiderman game for his PSP. I bought it at Target and it was shrink-wrapped and everything, but when he opened it, there was no disc inside! Totally empty. Now what customer service rep is going to believe me when I take this empty case back to Target and try to return it? “The game wasn’t in there. I want my money back.” I have a feeling I just bought a very expensive Spiderman case. *sigh* -Julia
What a great post. You made me cry.
Joolieray, you look quite fetching in your bonnet. A great Father’s Day post; your dad is still so handsome, even without the skinny 60s tie!
Happy Father’s Day to your amazing Dad!
I just made a note to come by here tomorrow!
I love that your sweet daughter likes my zebra chair. She should have a zebra chair, too!
Hope you’re having a delightful Sunday.
“Patty Ann”
If only I had such a short middle name….sigh…Call a manager at Target, you just never know….
Happy Fathers day!
Love the vintage photos and the touching sentiments!
P.S. I’m sooo reading your blog on Monday
Melanie–you know I now have to ask what your middle name is!
My husband took the case back to Target today and they said, “Oh, yeah, that happens a lot.” Who knew? He went back and got the last Spiderman game off the shelf and opened it, just to make sure. It was empty, too! How crazy is that? So he still has no game. Poor Dave.
Okay, you guys are a bunch of smart alecks. I told you NOT to come tomorrow. I get the feeling you aren’t taking my request very seriously! -J
What a sweet photo. Just discovering your blog – lots of great stuff!