Collecting Stuff

A member of the Silent Generation, Pops was a major collector of  “stuff” he gathered through experiences and events he was involved in during his GSA career. Some of his “treasures” had historical significance while others were simply of sentimental value. I tried to get him to produce videos or take pictures of his “stuff”, telling the stories behind the stuff and then putting it up on eBay to sell, or give it away.  While he was more than happy to tell me and others some of the stories behind his “stuff”, he rarely parted with any of it.  The stories and disposition have been left up to me, so I decided to write a book about my adventures in doing just that.

Boating and Fishing

One of the items I was left with was the Boston Whaler he customized to complement his lifestyle when he was assigned to the White House during his GSA career.  My son was happy to take over his fresh-water fishing poles and tackle, but the Boston Whaler will be sold. Yes, he shared many stories about how he used the boat for both work and play over the years. Some are interesting enough to make it to my book. Others will be easy to forget now that he is gone. He loved living near and playing on the water.

Bicycling

Bicycling was truly one of Pops’ greatest passions. He rode every day the weather was cooperative and he felt well. He had quite a collection of bikes. Some he used for work assignments and others for pure recreation. I look forward to sharing the stories behind some of them in the book I am writing.

RC Planes and Yachts

Pops brought his passion for RC planes with him into my family’s story. He participated in a couple of events in New Mexico, but when he moved to the Pacific Northwest, he decided to research RC yachting and I ended up purchasing an RC yacht for him to sail in nearby lakes.

Auto Racing and Related Hobbies

This hobby is perhaps where I have the most stories and  “stuff” to deal with in bringing closure to my adventures with Pops. If you are a NASCAR fan, I promise you won’t be disappointed in what I have to share about his passion for auto racing.