My sweet sister Lisa visited with us over the weekend and we had a great time, as usual. Lisa’s lack of artifice reminds me to be in the moment and enjoy simple traditions.
Memorial Day for Lisa conjures memories of watching the Indianapolis 500 with our dad, despite the fact that he died almost twenty-seven years ago. When Lisa wants to, she can bring him front and center and big events like Indy will do the trick. Every time.
Dad wasn’t much of a racing fan, but he enjoyed the pageantry and the opportunity to honor those who served our country with all the pre-race acknowledgements and rituals. His career in the oil industry was part of the allure…who wouldn’t love seeing their company logo all over super-charged vroom vroom cars?
His eyes told the story as I watched him, glued to the screen – as if he was behind the wheel. I suspect that’s true for every racing fan. Oh how he’d delight in the technology these days, with cameras affixed to drivers’ helmets.
Dad and Lisa’s favorite bits occurred before the race itself. Long a fan of “Andy Griffith” reruns, Lisa loved Jim Nabors’ pre-race song, “Back Home in Indiana” and would sing along. Dad and I would smile, knowing Lisa connected to the song because of Nabors’ sweet and backward good nature portrayed in his Gomer Pyle character. Simpleton at first blush, but savvy underneath. Lisa understood Gomer’s character better than the rest of us.
Years later when dad and I talked about my sitcom comparisons between my mom, Sue and Lucille Ball, especially her “I Love Lucy” antics, he asked if I ever thought of him as a TV character. I didn’t hesitate for a second. “Of course”, I said. “You’re Andy Griffith, didn’t you know?” Kind. Unassuming. Patient. Dad just smiled and I figured that signaled agreement.
But Gomer? He was an unlikely superhero, an underdog, especially in sweet Lisa’s eyes and our dad understood. Caring little about what others thought, he made sure Lisa had a front row seat for baseball games, comedy shows, concerts, despite her challenges with mobility and low vision. Sometimes she’d participate – like bowling and bocce ball but when she was a spectator, dad would narrate for her. Play by play. Color commentary, Sonny style.
Reading signs and capturing the details she’d miss – like Indy cars moving at 200+ miles per hour – Dad and Lisa were like a tag team as they watched. She heard every nuance from the excited broadcasters, and he saw it all. They’d sit within a few feet of the screen with Sue and I behind them. They’d giggle and tell us we were in the ‘cheap seats’ and we didn’t mind one bit.
Here’s to celebrating differences and smiling about the warm moments from the past. Thank you so much for reading!
Vicki 😊
P.S. Cheers to my blogging friend Jane Fritz for sharing a beautiful post about Richard Sherman, the man who created the soundtrack for Lisa’s childhood, especially her beloved, “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins. Thank you, Jane!
P.P.S. Check out this link for more “Peek Inside” content about “Surviving Sue”. I’m grateful for the great reviews on Amazon and Goodreads…and the wonderful questions from thoughtful readers. I welcome more! If you’ve enjoyed the book and my story, please pass along your positivity to a fellow reader.
Links to posts related to “Loving Lisa – TV Memories”:
Lisa Gets the Last Word – Victoria Ponders
Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Dads & Daughters – Victoria Ponders
Victoria Ponders 
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