ARTHUR E. LEWIS AND DOROTHY KNOCH

After seeing that picture above of my parents make me say "Thank You, Lord, for giving us a memory.

I haven't seen a picture of my Mom for some ten years, but, those eyes take me back to when I was a youth and it seems a day or two ago.

My Father was from Wales and my Mom from Tennessee.

Self made the both of them.

HOW I WOKE UP VIRTUALLY EVERY MORNING.

My parents would argue and the word divorce would come up virtually every morning.

Now your thinking what a bad childhood I had.

So wrong.

You see, they ONLY argued about business. NEVER ONCE WAS IT EVER PERSONAL.

How many can say that.

One wanted to keep something that was losing money and the other wanted to dump it.

My Father's office was the reconverted garage and my Mom didn't drive so a couple of hours after they were "divorcing" my Mom needed to go to the store and would say "Art lets go to Gemco" and off they went.

I WAS AND STILL THE LUCKIEST KID OF ALL-TIME

Not only did I have the number one Parents ever.

I had the greatest Sister and Brother-in-law.

The best brother and sister-in-law

The best Aunt and Uncle ever made

Two pets that had no equal.

Two nephews and a Niece that are HOF

When I lost my Wife a GODSEND OF A WOMAN CAME INTO MY LIFE NAMED lISA.

Her Mom can be summed up in one word. CLASS

Three great friends I grew up with.

And just as importanant my internet pals like Scott

Now I know you probably think I am biased

BUT BELOW IS THE LINKS TO BACK ME UP.


MY MOM, THE DODGER FAN

My Mom was the biggest Dodger fan.

It has been over 42 years but seems like two nights ago when Sandy Koufax pitched his perfect game against the Cubs.

My Mom with her Pall Mall cigarette in her right hand fingers and her coffee cup in her left hand. Staring at the radio like it was a TV waiting for Vin Scully next word.

MY PARENTS POLITICS

They were republicans and nothing else.

I remember when I was in second grade our teacher ask every student who do you want to win as President of the United States.

Every kid would say "President Johnson".

The teacher would say "very well done timmy".

When it was my turn I said "Barry Goldwater"

The teacher's smile went to a frown and said "why do you want him?"

Like I know. I just am mimicking who our parents want.

My parents listened to only talk radio before talk radio.

Virtually every caller to that talk radio station would be labeled "a communist" by my Dad

THEY NEEDED EACH OTHER

My Father was one of the hardest workers ever.

He be up at 4 am designing mobile home parks.

He built over 150 parks.

Be at the construction site by 6.

AND NEVER MISSED PLAYING CATCH. NEVER.


MY POP

My Dad didn't graduate from college. He was an officer in the CB'S in ww2. Became a electrical engineer, designer, general contractor.

Built over 150 mobile home parks, did the electrical on main street in Disneyland.

Was a genius in common sense. Was the kindest human being.

His personality, this will sum it up.

When I was seven my friends and I were into playing world war 2.

We were going to a Dodger game and I ask my Dad was he in the war.

He said yes.

I ask what did he do.

He told me as serious as he could be "I killed Adolf Hitler by myself".

I ask how.

He said "I was hiding being this big rock and Adolf came out to empty the trash".

The next day I am so proud to tell my friends what my Dad did.

Can you picture the scene of my friend around the dinner table saying "Gary's dad killed adolf hitler by himself."

Then their dad would say "what".

Then my friend would say "Adolf was empting the trash".

WELL I WILL WRITE THIS STORY LATER

I wrote something for two hours and right when I was going to finish I was thrown off tripod. cocksuckers.

THAT AUGUST MORNING IN 1974

My Mom was 48 years old and never was sick EVER.

Had to have surgery to take a a sist. (the doctors say it is like having your tonsils removed).

My Dad, Sister and me were in the waiting room.

The way the made it seem so simple I thought Mom would be cooking that night.

My Dad had a worried look on his face and said "it's taking too long".

Then the Doctor yelled out "Lewis Family"

He started out saying "It was Maligant" Then my sister said "oh my God".

No I get excited and say "WHAT, WHAT".

Now I interupted this doctor and he stares at the floor and says nothing.

My Dad screams at me "SHADDUP".

I am waiting for him to resume talking.

He slowly raises his head and stares at me for around 7 seconds that seemed like a lifetime.

He rolls his eyes and says 'like I was saying it was maligant (as he is turning around to leave he says I give her 14 months.

My Dad is such a class act he says thank you doctor.

If I could relive that one more time. I SWEAR TO GOD I WOULD OF COLD COCKED THAT DOCTOR AND KNOCK HIS TEETH OUT AND THEN CALL THE POLICE TO BE ARRESTED.

MY POOR MOM

I don't wish cancer for no one.

I was going to Cal St. Fullerton and was manager of a dixie hifi stereo store (now circuit city).

My Mom was getting worse and wanted to be with her family.

My sister lived two doors from me.

I have no idea how my sister and Pam did it (took care of our bed ridden Mom).

My Mom was no more than 70 pounds and would cry to me "she didn't want to die".

That haunts me after 30 plus years.

I WILL BE ADDING MORE SOON.


THE LINKS

Dee and Rick: Best Sister and Brother in law EVER
Lucy and Nick: Number one Aunt and Uncle ever
Rick Lewis: My big brother
FRAN, JEANNE, ALEISHA AND JC
Tribute to Roman: greatest cat ever
Greatest Ramfan ever: WALT I LOVE YOU
MY INTERNET PALS SCOTT AND THE GANG
MY FAMILY