Good Bye old friend.....

Have you ever had favourite article of clothing that you simply loved for one reason or another?  Take a look at the banner picture above.   Do you notice the shirt I'm wearing?   It was a gift from my sister Wilma and her family many years ago.

I love that shirt - for so many reasons.  It is super comfortable.   It is the best travel shirt I have ever owned.    I could pack it and it would never come out wrinkled.   It has a nice big pocket with a zipper where I could keep my passport, boarding pass, phone and still have room for some treats.
It keeps me cool with its vented back.  And I could wear it with jeans or shorts as easy as I could wear it with dress pants.  Did I mention that it is the most comfortable shirt I have?

It has kept its shape and held up great through the years.   Well that was until this last weekend.   On Friday when I went to put it on,  one of my fingers went right through the fabric.   It was worn out.

Needless to say it was a sad day for me.   That shirt and me have gone through a lot together   I've worn it for many special occasion and on many trips.   I didn't realize how many special occasions until I started looking through some photos.   These brought back some great memories not only of the events but of the wonderful people who have seen me in this shirt.   Lets take a trip down memory lane.

Oakland California at A's game (Sept 2013)

Papahashi riding the CalTrain from San Jose to San Francisco.  (Sept 2013)

Papahashi with his girlfriend at the Donny and Marie show in Las Vegas (Sept 2013)
This was part of the Papahashi Concert Tour '13

Granny's Drive-In, Heber, Utah (Sept 2013)
On our way to visit Alana and Luke and Tracen
Do you see the guys behind me?

Out for BBQ in Rexburg, Idaho (Feb 2013)

At Home with Meika and Tyken - Sometime in 2012 - I 'm having a problem dating the pictures based on what I'm wearing

In Rexburg with Tracen - Sometime in 2012

Christmas at home (2012)

Either coming from or going to the Allred Cabin - August 2011

Birthday - April 2011

You can see that this shirt has travelled a few miles.  

Nothing better than being with your favorite people in your favorite place wearing your favorite shirt
Erika's grad from BYU Hawaii

These last two pictures are pretty special to me.   This really is my favorite shirt but like I said, its because of the memories of the events when I wore the shirt and in the case of these pictures, its the great people I was able to hang out with when I wore the shirt. 

I think I may have inherited the shirt thing from my dad.   He would often wear plaid shirts.   This picture is no exception.   He's wearing his uniform and I'm wearing mine.  I sure do miss him and his plaid shirts.
This picture was taken at Sharon and Darren's place a couple of years ago.   

This is the oldest picture I could find with me wearing the shirt.   For those who know the family you can see why its a special picture.    It was one of the last times we were all together with Grandpa Rex.  And there is Jim in the back wearing his uniform.   A T-shirt with a pocket.    Taken at Dave and Brenda's place in Aug 2007.

Sure, it could be sewn and perhaps give me a couple more years, but it wouldn't be the same.   Its served me well.  Its time for it to be retired.   As you can see, the shirt has had a good life.   Its well travelled and has had great company.

Another reason to retire it is because some of you are tired of seeing me wear it.    On the other hand, you may not recognize me if I'm not wearing it.   

I'm back . . . again (Happy Birthday Jamie!)

Its been over a year since my last post.   And a lot has happened since then.    I originally started blogging to keep my family up to date with what was going on at home when the girls were starting to move away.   There have been a few Instagram posts in the last year and while they are good for a quick update, they don't communicate everything that is going on (not that this blog does that - but at least it does give a bit more background).  

Now that we are empty nesters and 5 of our 6 girls are not even in Alberta anymore it seems like its time to return to the blog.    And what a better time to return then on a Birthday.   In the early days of the blog I would have special entries to celebrate birthdays.   Not going to that extreme today - only because a lot of the good pictures were used up.   Take a look at my entry from this day in 2010 to see what I mean. ( http://papahashi.blogspot.ca/2010_03_16_archive.html)

Happy Birthday Jamie!  

Remember when we saw James Taylor with the MTC?

I have lots to catch up on.   Stay tuned

Take a picture

I remember something that I was told over 30 years ago when I was a young missionary.  Shortly after I arrived in Japan we had one of our church leaders come and talk to us.  It was Elder Kikuchi. He talked about a lot of things that day but what I remember is what he told us about taking pictures.   He said that if you have a camera take pictures of things that you think are new and interesting even if they are common or something you will see every day.    His reasoning was that because it is something that you see every day it will soon become routine and you won’t even think of taking a picture.   But these are the things that will bring back great memories someday and you will wish that you had a picture.  The example he used was a Japanese mailbox.   

Ironically I never did take a picture of one of these - this is from the web

Well earlier this week I had one of those “wish I would have taken a picture” moments.     Alana and Luke and Tracen lived with us for the past 4 months.  It was great to have them around.

While they were here Tracen learned a lot of new tricks.   He learned how to walk.  He learned how to go up and down stairs.  He learned out to say “Papa” (short of Papahahashi).    After he would wake up in the morning he would climb up the stairs saying “Papa” all the way.   My home office is at the top of the stairs and he would come looking for me   I could see him looking at me through the railing as he reached top.   At the top of the stairs he would stand up and walk into the office.  Sometimes he would come and have me pick him up but more often than not he would walk right over to the printer and start pushing the buttons.   (one day he managed to make 99 copies of a blank page)

. 

Well, Alana and Luke and Tracen left early on Wednesday morning.  Later in the morning about when Tracen would normally wake up, I was sitting at my desk looking at the top of the stairs missing my little buddy.   I felt especially sad when I realized that I didn’t have a picture of Tracen looking through those railings at me or standing at the top of the stairs smiling at me or pushing the buttons on the printer.   I wish I would have taken a picture.  

When Brylie was young, Mike and Angie lived with us as well.    By my computer I have a picture of Brylie and me when she came to visit me in home office when she was little.  

  

I'm glad I have this

Angie and Mike were staying another day so I had Tyken and Meika stand in for Tracen before they headed back to Saskatoon

Tyken filling in for Tracen.  Tracen would look those rails and try to get my attention. 

Meika is a very good substitute.  About the same size and age..and a great smile.

She was distracted way before the printer.

Then today I was looking through pictures on my phone and another camera and look what I found.  

Its Tracen at the top of the stairs.  This is taken from below but that's where he would stop and look at me through the rails on the other side.  

Then I found this treasure.

I don't remember taking this picture but I'm sure glad I did.  

Growing up my mom liked to take lots of pictures and at times it was embarassing but now I'm glad she did.   These days, it seems like everyone takes pictures of everything but often forget those day to day things that seem common or even boring.    These are the things we need to take more pictures of.

My Blog is Back here from Papahashi.com

Someone hacked into my blog at papahashi.com.   Fortunately they didn't do anything malicious but they did take my blog down.   I got the blog back up there are still some issues.  Until I get the issues fixed I'll post my updates here.