A Man and His Friends
It all begins with an idea. The type of idea that follows one for years, remaining somewhere inside the mind. Gradually that idea begins to rest in your heart, stirring frequently to remind you that it needs to be nurtured.
That is what led me to this adventure. The time has come to honor a stirring inside me to share my writing with others. The publication of Stick Figures ~ A Big Brother Remembers this fall will be a tribute to my Little Brother Mike and the times we shared together.
Stay tuned for publication information and for more information on this new journey.
Photo of my father Jim Quinn and Ralph the Jeep out hunting. Circa 1970
They say you can tell a lot about a man by his friends. Those he hangs around with are a reflection of him, a sign of what makes him tick. A man’s friends reflect his values, and give the world a better understanding of the qualities that form the foundation of his character.
So what does it say to a kid when a he grows up with a Dad whose constant companion was Ralph the Jeep?
Sure, Ed Kralichek was Dad’s best friend and fish’n buddy. But when it came to choosing the friend that would accompany him on the daily journey of life, my father chose Ralph the Jeep.
A 1956 Willys Jeep boasting a unique primer-grey unpainted paint job, Ralph the Jeep was not just an extra vehicle hanging around waiting to go hunting. No way--Ralph was Dad’s set of wheels. Not the Lexus or Caddy that today one might expect a professional of Dad’s stature to drive. Nope. Ralph was simply a rattling chunk of gray metal on wheels, complete with a pink interior and a top speed of 35 miles per hour.
Brothers Kelly (L) and Tim (R) with Dad and Ralph the Jeep after a hunting trip.
It was obvious from his reserved parking spot under the clothesline on Leslie Street that Ralph the Jeep wasn’t the flashiest vehicle in the fleet. But when it came to durability, dependability and adventurous fun, none of the Vista Cruisers that lived in the garage ever came close to Ralph.
Aside from a nasty habit of taking an unscheduled vacation each winter when the temperature dropped below zero, Ralph was more than happy to go everywhere with Dad. Each morning, they made a connection when Dad’s foot pushed the starter button on the floor. Ralph roared to life, Peggy and I climbed in, and we headed off toward Bishop Gilmore School. Dad would drop us off, and then Ralph made a right turn. Together they chugged a few more blocks where Ralph made sure Dad arrived at his downtown office, rushing in shortly before the second appointment of the day was scheduled to start.
Long before turning lanes were invented in Montana, Ralph understood the concept. Each morning, Ralph would swerve to the right into what was then the shoulder of the road. To the sound of cheering kids and rattling teeth, Ralph chugged up Benton Avenue past a long line of cars waiting for their chance to turn left onto Euclid. Ralph wasn’t just pulling an illegal fast one on the morning rush hour crowd. He was, in fact, teaching us a lesson. He was demonstrating how common sense, a little adventure and plenty of hustle was much better than sitting around waiting for life to happen. Ralph didn’t take risks, but he loved to take on a challenge.
The fact that Ralph the Jeep was exactly like my father is why I loved that Jeep. Just like my Dad, Ralph was solid, unpretentious and reliable. There was no flash, no glamour, and no nonsense. Ralph’s only accessory was a heater. It was a small white knob below the dashboard that lit up when turned clockwise. A fan would blow frigid air on the passenger’s ankles, but the only apparent heat came from the tiny light bulb. So what if the contraption only created windchill inside the Jeep? Dad never complained. Both he and Ralph just happily chugged along.
Neither Dad nor Ralph needed speed. They were happy to travel along the road of life without racing past the people and places that made life interesting. They were both easy-going, dependable and always good for a laugh. And they both loved having others share the journey with them.
Dad and Ralph the Jeep taught me that if you slowed down and enjoyed the ride, persistence and making the correct turns eventually got you where you needed to go. Ralph didn’t care how steep or bumpy the road was. That Jeep knew that with Dad’s careful guidance, they would make it safely to wherever they were headed.
Yes, you can tell a lot about a man by his friends. You see what makes him tick. You learn about his values. You come to understand the unique qualities of the man who God gave you as your Father.
And deep in your heart, you come to know that those countless miles you’ve been lucky enough to travel with him truly are the very best part of your own life’s journey.
Welcome!
It all begins with an idea. The type of idea that follows one for years, remaining somewhere inside the mind. Gradually that idea begins to rest in your heart, stirring frequently to remind you that it needs to be nurtured.
That is what led me to this adventure. The time has come to honor a stirring inside me to share my writing with others. The publication of Stick Figures ~ A Big Brother Remembers this fall will be a tribute to my Little Brother Mike and the times we shared together.
Stay tuned for publication information and for more information on this new journey.
It all begins with an idea. An idea that occupies the mind, but often just fades away. On rare occasions, however, the idea moves into the heart. From there, it stirs occasionally and evolves from an idea to an inspiration that needs to be addressed.
Which is exactly what happened here. The desire to share my writing, to tell the tales that have added texture to my Life Journey, has brought me here.
Later this year, I will publish Stick Figures, A Big Brother Remembers. The work is a tribute to my Little Brother Mike and the times we shared over 13 years in our match through the Big Brothers mentoring program.
Stay tuned for additional information on publication dates and additional information about the book. I am excited to share the story and our adventures with you.