Don't play with the fire ..... sorry .... it's his ......

Just a guy sitting by his fire ....

Not really, that is my Son, Brad sitting on his porch by his fire, in his house, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Why does it bring a tear to my eye ... I have sat by a number of fires with him for many years, around campfires, at Indian Lake, probably at Dillon Dam, perhaps in Michigan or just on Montgomery road. But then, he was my little boy, now he is a married man, a good husband and working hard, and it gives me nothing but pure joy, with a few tears, to see him here.

He was my little boy for so many years, played in the yard, went fishing, little league baseball, some nice trips. School, the JVS, had our own print shop for a while. He left us for two years, to serve in the Navy, never forget the morning he left. And then later, he made the decision to head East. Worked for his Sister, and then his present job, and then he met Bernie, and later on we headed East to attend their wedding.

In this picture he is older, wearing glasses, but that still is my little boy sitting there, still playing with the fire, like he has done so many times, but now it is his fire, and I can't tell him to stop. So proud of our Son, what he has accomplished, and what he has become ............

Brad Dooley - His birthday is today ..

braddooley4@gmail.com

Joseph Bradford Dooley, II. So many memories, little league games, the Holton Trotters, way too many to relate here.

One day I will never forget, was that early morning, on Montgomery Road in Newark, Ohio, and in the space of a minute, that Navy vehicle, took you away, and your Mother and I just sat there and stared at each other, and cried, in that instant, Brad was gone, our little Brad.

I remember fishing at Dillon, our raft trip, a trip to Michigan with Albert, Eating at Dagwood's with Darrell, a few trips to New York, Shamrock Printing.

The thing I will always remember the most, is that you have accomplished all that you have, on your own. You headed to New York on your own. I thank Debra Dooley for what she has done for you, and I thank whatever "God's" were in the heaven that directed you to Bernie, a marriage made in heaven, so to speak.

You have exceeded our expectations in mapping out your life, we could not be more pleased.

Happy birthday, my Son, your Father is very proud of you. You are always in our thoughts, but today, even moreso .........................

No problem, mate..........

Longevity, living to be 100. In my early days this seemed like an impossibility. When you are young, seems like an eternity between Christmas's, an end to a school day dragged on. I guess we got an inkling of things to come when it came to Summer. In comparison to the school year, Summers moved along pretty fast.

But wait till you make it to seventy or seventy-five, days only have twelve hours. Weekends roll around in no time at all, weeks fly by, before you know it, the month is over.

My 80th birthday seemed a long way off, a few months ago. It is the end of September. A few months back, arrangements were being made for all my East coast children to fly back for a four day celebration at the end of August. This was necessitated by school and business commitments, so we were celebrating a month early. When the reservations were made, it seemed like a long way off. In a week or so, it will be "next month."

It will be a very "special" occasion. Due to a divorce, and people moving, other circumstances, this will be the first time I have had all my "kids" together at one time, took almost 80 years to do it. So, I am finally going to have Debra, Dean, Melissa and Brad, and their families, children, grand children, great grandchild, and one on the way, all together, at one time.  How great is that?

If time keeps speeding by like it is now, longevity is looking good. The first 80 look pretty good, some of the rest may just zip by.

Memorial Day - To Me

Another Memorial Day is approaching. Does not seem like it was that long ago that I wrote  my annual blog. My Grandfather, Caleb Dooley, was in the Civil War. He was in an Indiana Regiment, and was mustered out of the Army somewhere in Texas.

Ralph Dean Dooley, my Father was in WWI. He was involved in may campaigns in Germany. He was  too young to enlist, but somehow manged to do it. He tells of looking back, as the train pulls out, of seeing his aging father, gazing at him, Caleb, knowing of the horrors of war,going off to serve his country. My Dad  tells of getting a break from his duties in a bunker, and going "topside" for a smoke. Some of his friends were playing poker on an ammunition box, and invited him to sit in. Instead, he walked off a way to spend some time in thought. A German shell dropped in the center off the box, killing all of those who were playing. His guardian angel was again looking out for him.

My Brother, Dean Shannon Dooley was in WWII, in the Submarine Service. After he graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, he went through a V-12 Program at Great Lakes and received his commission. He went through submarine training, and was assigned to the S-11. On one occasion, he was coming home on leave. We were anxiously awaiting the time to go pick him up, and we received a telegram. LOST ISWAS STOP BE HOME SATURDAY NIGHT STOP DEAN STOP  We were concerned that he had lost his mind. Turned out an ISWAS was some sort of a device used on subs. IS here, WAS there.

I was in the Korean War, two years in San Diego in the Discipline Office, discharging the "bad boys" in the Eleventh Naval District. Did that for two years and then spent two years about the USS William Mitchell TAP114.

My Son Dean served during Viet Nam and my youngest Son Brad, was in Desert Storm, both in the Navy. Brad was in a Stinger Missile detachment aboard the USS Elrod.

We have done our share. I hope that my Grandchildren and their children never have to go through another war.

Brad Dooley has a Birthday - 21 May 2012

Who, you ask, is Brad Dooley?

Well, he is my Son, actually, Joseph Bradford Dooley, II. At times, I wish I had done more for him, but when I look at him today, and primarily what he has done and become, I could not be prouder. I remember taking him fishing, playing for the old Holton Trotters, a Little League Baseball Team, he saw KISS, went to Michigan, probably more times than he wanted, went to Cheyenne during Rodeo Days, whatever we did, must have been right.

He was the cause of one of the most memorable days in my life, the day that Navy recruiter drove up to our house on Montgomery Road, early one morning, and in a split second, took him away. I remember my wife and I just looked at each other, our son was suddenly gone. I will never forget the emotions of that morning.

Perhaps the "highest" of the "highs," was his wedding, a few years ago, at The Would, in Highland, New York. One of the owners there is his sister, Debra, and it was a "highlight reel" wedding, met our whole new wonderful family. We are very proud of our son, and his brothers and sisters, Debra, Dean, Melissa and of course, the birthday boy, Brad.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ..... Joseph Bradford Dooley II, Brad.

Mothers Day

Well, I have to show these flowers off. My wife got them today for Mothers Day from our son and his wife in New York, Brad and Bernie. I have never seen such a LARGE arrangement. My wife was overwhelmed when she came out and saw them. In a later email, I was told that Brad picked them out.

I put the photograph on Facebook. Put another entry that the FAA had called, either wanted us to take them inside, or put a blinking red light on top of them.

Been married almost fifty years, I take great pleasure when my wife is happy. I am sure our Daughter Melissa and probably Granddaughter and perhaps Great Granddaughter will show up and make her day complete. I think it is great that we set aside one day to honor Mothers, they don't get the credit they deserve. 

I hope all Mothers are acknowledged tomorrow. I am sure that there are some who are all alone in the world. If you know of someone, take a moment to wish them a Happy Day. Let's all go to a nursing home and spend a little time with a lonely Mother.

Happy Mothers Day..

Veterans Day - 2011

Another year has rolled around ... I am in my 80th year. I will explain that, it was explained to me recently. I just had, in September, my 79th birthday ...... but, I am presently in my 80th year .... because, you live for one whole year before you are 1 ......... so, from birth to your first birthday, you are in your first year .... so, I am in my 80th year.

I can get two years worth of uhs and ahs, this year and next year. "How old are you, Joe?"

"I am in my 80th year."

And, "How old are you Joe."

"Turned 80 last September."

Veterans Day.

My Grandfather, Caleb Dooley, was in the Civil War. My Father, Ralph Dean Dooley, M.D., was in World War One. My Brother, Dean Shannon Dooley was in World War Two.

I was in the Navy during the Korean War, Son Dean was in during Viet Nam, and Son Brad served during Desert Storm. A long family line of veterans.

My Veteran story, which I have told here before, but will repeat, as I often do.

OSU-Navy football game a few years ago. I wore a hat my son Brad had given me. Navy hat BMU-2 STINGERS ...... Dooley on the back. I wore it to that game. At the Varsity Club a Navy Captain approached me, looked at my hat, extended his hand, and said, "Thanks for your service."

That happened a lot that day, first day I really felt like a Veteran.

I had a good four years in the Navy. Spent two years in San Diego working in the Discipline Office for the Eleventh Naval District, discharged the "Bad Boys," and there were quite a few of them, did a couple of months on Shore Patrol in Tijuana, and spent two years on the USS William Mitchell, hauling troops and dependents to Japan and other points East. So, I had a good four years.

I remember WWII well, had a Victory Garden, collected cans and grease, we had ration cards, and a sticker on Dad's car for gasoline purchases. I remember sugar being scarce, neighbors coming to our house to say hello when they were home on leave. Bob Shook spent time in the water when his aircraft carrier sank, and came to tell us about it. We had a Stromberg-Carlson radio, which you could record on little white records. We used it a lot, neighbors and friends would stop by and make a record to send overseas, and often, people would bring records they had received for us to play for them.

I remember spending many hours in front of the radio listening to war news. I did get to see FDR In a parade in Dayton, riding with Charles Kettering and Orville Wright.

I will never forget, and it is as vivid in my memory now, as it was that morning, when the Navy Recruiter drove his gray Navy vehicle, up Montgomery Road, to pick up our Son, Brad, and take him away, to serve in the Navy. A sadness and emptiness that is hard to explain, and so many people have gone through similar experiences.

My Dad often told the story about looking back at his Father, Caleb, the Civil War Veteran, as he left on a train  in Marion, Indiana, to go to his basic training in World War I. Caleb had lived through the horrors of war, and knew what his son was heading towards.

Just think what this country could be like, if it were not for veterans, and those who gave their lives.

I danced with my Daughter

I danced with my Daughter on May 30th, 2010.

What is newsworthy about that? Well, my Son Brad got married, at The Would, in Highland, New York, So?

For one thing, my Daughter is one of the owners of The Would. OK!

After the wedding, at the reception, after we all ate, the DJ played music, and people started dancing. OK!

The minister who performed the wedding, Arlene Dawber, was a friend of my Daughter, and had often talked with her, and knew a lot about her past life.

She knew that Debra's Mother and I had gotten divorced in the late 50's, and that I had only seen my Daughter a few times since then, and that we did not see each other for almost 30 years. She knew that we had gotten back together after all that time, and had a few visits together. She knew what a special day this was for me.

During one of the dance breaks, Arlene took the microphone and announced that Debra and her Father, were going to dance. What she didn't know, was that my Daughter and I had never danced together. I am 77, my Daughter, well, is in her 50's, and we had never danced together.

I don't think anyone in the crowd knew what a special moment this was for us, I think only Debra and I knew, and Arlene.  I know how I felt, both sad and happy.

So, thank you, Arlene, for giving me that moment, I finally danced with my Daughter.

The Wedding - Brad and Bernie

I have had good days in my life, some good times, some events  that stand out, but last weekend, the wedding of Brad Dooley and Bernie Colon, is very high in the top ten list. I cannot imagine a wedding, or any event for that matter, that was so perfect.

Sure, I was partial, my young son, getting married, but I just cannot imagine anything going off so perfectly.

The weather was great, not too hot, and a nice breeze.

The Place, The Would, in Highland, New York.

The Setting, an outside, covered area, was originally a boccie ball court, flooring put down, decorated impeccably.

The Minister, Arlene, a Methodist, with a sense of humor, who had the infinite ability to make us smile, at the right time, and be serious, when it was called for. She involved the families and the audience in the wedding, not just the bride and groom. And then, at just the right appropriate moment, pulled out her guitar and sang. She was not restricted by accepted norms, and her interpretation was extraordinary. I wish I lived in New York, I would attend her church.

The Best Man, long story. My son, Brad, did not grow up with Debra as a sister. He met her later on in life, briefly, but apparently, the blood line merged them together. Brad decided many years ago to leave his home in Ohio and move to New York, and spend time with his new found sister. Brad selected her, to give him away. Dad swelled with pride at the decision. Actually, Dad cried when he heard of the decision.

The Bride, looked lovely and they maintained some old traditions, which were nice. Bernie looked lovely. It was apparent that Bernie and Brad were in love, and that the union of the two came about after some thorough soul searching and thought. Bernie was carrying a heavy family load, Brad was aware of it, and chose to accept the responsibility. I am so proud of my Son, he has truly become, a Man.

The entire day was perfect. The Dooley family also fell in love with the Colon family and her relatives, and I think they felt the same way.

It was a perfect wedding, in all respects, from start to finish.

A Toast, please, to the couple, for a long life, good health and  prosperity.

Our world of "loved ones"' has been greatly expanded.

What a Day this has been ....

Brad Dooley is married, Bernie is now Bernie Dooley, what a great addition to the family. It was a perfect day at The Would, in Highland, New York.

You can't imagine a more perfect setting for a marriage ceremony.

Right now, it is almost midnight, I am exhausted, and will write more tomorrow and in days to follow.

You'll hear some about Gil, Gail, the minister, Debra Dooley, Dean Dooley, Zach and Ash, and many more. I will also, because of public demand, get a photograph, and tell the story about the "ring," everyone asked about it. I didn't want it to overshadow the ceremony, so I purposely did not wear it to the ceremony.

The food was superb, the surroundings, impeccable, the Colon family, unsurpassed, It was a glorious day. Be sure to check back in the  next few days, fotos that you won't want to miss, and more information about the wedding.

It is late, I am sitting on the patio of our motel, beautiful out here, getting a little chilly. Later