Wordy Wednesday ~ Dad Naturally

[As I never seemed to be able to keep my Wednesdays "Wordless", I'm taking my cue from Greta over at Greta's Genealogy Blog. Several week's ago, Greta said in her Wednesday post, "Since I find it so difficult to be “wordless” in my Wednesday contributions, I decided to start a new tradition, “Wordy Wednesday." Well, Greta, I'm jumping on that bandwagon starting now!!]

Since this is Father's Day week - Wordy Wednesday is devoted to a few pictures of my Dad.



This is the earliest picture I have of my Dad. He would be about 6 mo old. I remember asking my Grandma Ritchie more than once if this was REALLY Dad, because that sure looks like a pink sweater - but Grandma said it was Dad, and she would be the best one to know that!




Dad in the traditional "child on pony" picture. That hat is something else! I haven't yet found out where this picture might have been taken. My Dad's family lived in Cleveland until he was around 12. His maternal grandparents lived on a farm near Apple Creek so I've always thought this picture might have been taken on a visit to the farm. I'll have to see if Dad knows the answer when I see him this Sunday.


This is the earliest formal portrait of Dad. He is the younger of the two boys ~ and the cutest! I don't know how they were able to get both boys to sit there long enough to take the picture, and I'm even more curious about how they managed to keep Dad from falling over.







Finally a picture that I featured in a previous Wordless Wednesday, but it's so priceless I'm posting it again. Also, it's my baby sister's favorite picture of Dad.




Poor little "Donnie" can't even keep his head up, but he's waving to the adoring crowds ~ way to go Dad!!