Day 1811: Bert was a marine.

"Bert's Sister, Evelyn & Bert", collage, old photo & digital

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I really loved Bert, all of my life & still.

I was an only child, and only around adults.

Bert was special, a fun grown-up!

Married to Bea, they were the Ken & Barbie of their day.

Bea & Bert

 

Bea was beautiful & my Dad's cousin from Indiana.

All had moved to SoCal about the same time.

Bea & me age2

Bert had been a Marine & had colorful language.

I remember the adults chastising him about it,

and I think he tried, but it was ingrained.

Bert would take me with on errands, even to a ball game. 

me age 5 & Bert

I would have gone to the moon with him, anytime.

Once my Mom was driving down Sunset Boulevard,

I at four, was perched on the front seat, no seat belts then.

I remember her making a U-turn and I casually asked ...

"where in the hell are you going Mother?".

I do remember her pulling to the curb & running into a store.

Later I found out that she was in hysterics but didn't want 

me to think that what I had said was funny.

And later I do remember Bert had a jar where he put money

when his language was improper. I think they called it a cuss jar.

I remember it, it had change & bills in it.

Bert gave me a discarded baseball from one of the games.

He wrote Bert + Jacki on it.

I treasured that worn out ball with the faded writing forever.

I took it with me to boarding school at age 8, 

later to Australia, later on high school & college.

Some would ask who Bert was, I would smile & say "special."

. . .

Bert was a graduate of Wabash University, a mechanical engineer.

Bert (center) & crew at the brickyard

He returned to Indianapolis 500 several years as pit crew chief.

A beloved auto mechanics teacher at a LA high school for years,

he would take his boys to national auto competitions for Ford.

1984

Bea & Bert were a special part of young WW's life too.

They've been gone a long time now ... but I miss them still.

So grateful,  great memories last a long time.

92 degrees, sunny, Santa Ana, CA 

A smile for Tuesday ...