Going to Work With Dad by olivetreeann

Going to Work With Dad

After my father completed his service in the US Army he returned home and went to work at the same rubber importing/exporting firm as his father. He began as an accountant and clerk but ended up as the comptroller after he'd earned his BA in business by going to Pace University at night. He was always very proud of that achievement. I still remember him studying at his desk in the basement of the house I grew up in after we'd eaten dinner together as a family.

But long before the degree, Dad was already sharing his abilities and knowledge with others. In this picture Dad is the second man on the left. In the early 1950's Dad helped the "Future Businessmen of America" club at the high school manufacture fishing flies for the Durable Fly Co. The young entrepreneurs were so successful they won the Industry Award and were honored at a banquet featuring Red Buttons. An executive from Chase Bank (possibly the man on the right) and a well-known actress (in the center- poor Dad could never remember her name and I don't know who she is either!) came to present the award to the club. Dad was extremely proud of this accomplishment.

When I was a young girl, my father would sometimes bring me into work with him. This was a BIG DEAL and quite exciting for me because Dad worked in the magical kingdom called "New York City"! His company offices were located in a large skyscraper and there was a window in Dad's office that overlooked the Hudson River. I remember climbing up into the window sill and sitting there to watch the boats going up and down the river while Dad clicked away on his adding machine (the forerunner to a calculator). At lunchtime we'd go to this awesome place called the "Automat". It was actually a glorified cafeteria, but to a little girl the idea of seeing your sandwich through a little window and then inserting a coin in a slot so that you could open the window and take the sandwich out, was just short of the same kind of magic that took place in the circus!

All these bits and pieces do not seem to be related to the tragic event that took place in New York thirteen years ago today. But I'll never forget a conversation I had with Dad shortly after the attack on the World Trade Towers. "I remember watching them go up" he said, "It will be so hard to see that skyline without them."

Very true Dad. May we never forget.
They look so professional in their suits! He seems young enough to be one of the students--how neat that he volunteered to giveback with his time. :)
September 12th, 2014  
This is a very poignant and nostalgic piece, Ann, nicely recalled and retold with details that paint a vivid picture. Thank you for sharing.
September 12th, 2014  
Love seeing shots from days gone by
September 12th, 2014  
Wonderful memories!
September 12th, 2014  
Amen, the day that changed everything
September 12th, 2014  
Lovely!
September 12th, 2014  
Beautiful memories and pic. A great tribute to you dad.
( He most have become very old as he was from : .... In the early 1050's Dad helped... )
September 12th, 2014  
@pyrrhula Oops! That should have been the 1950's! It's fixed now. Thank you Pyrrhula!

@wordpixman Thank you Arthur! As you know, it's a treasure for me when I know more details about the picture as I do with this one.

@gratefulness @bkbinthecity @salza @digitalrn @kerristephens

Thank you Sandi!
Thank you Brian!
Thank you Sally!
Thank you Rick!
Thank you Kerri!

I appreciate you all stopping by and reading!! Off to an early bed time because the photo club is out and about tomorrow morning. I'll catch up with you tomorrow.
September 13th, 2014  
wonderful memories and photo
September 14th, 2014  
@daisymiller Thank you Daisy!
September 14th, 2014  
Arthur summed up your piece here quite well. Nice family picture but your words made it so much more.
September 14th, 2014  
Bev
Great photo, Ann. What great memories you have. That's cool that you have a photo of an actress. You should find out who she is somehow.
September 14th, 2014  
wonderful.
September 14th, 2014  
@pandorasecho Thank you Daisy! I think it's one way that old pictures become a part of you- those stories that connect like a thread in a tapestry, woven in and out of the picture of your life.
@prttblues Thank you Bev! I have no idea how to do that- yet. But I'm thinking about it.
@francoise Thank you Francoise!
September 15th, 2014  
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