A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-11-06....This is Your Life

Diver Dave; Billie | Diver Dave

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

by DiverDave

Waaaay back in the 1950’s, many American families would gather around the old black and white television set to watch a program called, "This Is Your Life."

The premise of the show, which was produced by Ralph Edwards, was to surprise a featured guest on "live" television with a presentation of that guest’s biography supplied by the people who knew him or her.

Ralph Edwards would appear at the beginning with a large scrapbook tucked under his arm. Often times, he would surprise the guest at a Hollywood restaurant. Friends or relatives would secretly arrange to have the guest out to dinner, and Edwards would walk up to him/her, interrupt the table conversation introducing himself and then announce, "’John…", This Is Your Life."

The featured guest was then driven to the television studios where the rest of the show would take place. Edwards would offer a lead-in to an individual secreted off-stage. A voice would be heard reflecting on an incident or character from the guest of honor’s past. The person would then come on stage for a reunion with their friend. As the show progressed, more and more details of the person’s life were revealed with the introduction of friends and relatives of the guest of honor, and more tidbits would be revealed with the reunions.

At the end of the show, the guest of honor was presented with a Bell and Howell 16 mm sound movie camera and projector and a copy of the entire program. Edwards also presented the honoree with the scrapbook he used throughout the show as a point of reference. The book had the signature "This Is Your Life" logo on the front along with the person’s name. All the guests were then escorted out to a grand reunion affair.

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I used the "This Is Your Life" television program to tie in the similarity of the TV show and the beginnings of "FR’s Finest…" as well as to share a couple personal stories of "This Is Your Life."

As y’all look back through the "Hall of Fame" threads of FR’s Finest…, in the early days, individual FReepers were being interviewed by the different hostesses at the time. Many of us are logged in to those early FR’s Finest Profiles providing an inside look at each of us not readily available through our normal postings.

The first personal "This Is Your Life" I’d like to share deals with my dad, Pete.

My father passed away 10 years ago this month at the age of 88. A few years before his death, one of my cousins decided to put together a family book. She solicited contributions from throughout Dad’s large extended family. Dad was one of 13 children, so you may get an understanding of how "large" this family is. One of my favorite stories Dad told was when he was talking to a young boy at church about his family. He said, "There were 5 boys in my family, and each one of us had 8 sisters." The boy did the math and said in wide-eyed amazement, "WOW! 40 Kids".

The book my cousin created is filled with comments from coast to coast and border to border. All the cousins, as well as the few surviving siblings in Dad’s family submitted tons of information. It traces the story of the immigration (legal) of our grandparents from Denmark all the way forward to present day. The information gleaned from all the cousins and sisters, presents several "This Is You Life" sequences. Prior to Dad’s funeral, Pastor Ed was given a copy of the book to use as background in the eulogy. During the funeral service, he commented how great it was to read through the book and have all that information available in writing rather than relying on attaining the information during a family’s time of grief. Better still, he said how great it was for Dad to have been able to read for himself the words of praise from those around him his entire life. Words that often times fail to be uttered before one’s death.

One more personal perspective… In January of last year, my family surprised me with my very own "This Is Your Life," complete with my very own scrapbook.

The story begins during the summer of ’04. Mrs dd and our daughters came up with the idea to solicit from friends and relatives comments to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Behind the scenes, via e-mails, letters and phone calls, they managed to enlist all these folks to contribute whatever they wished. All were asked to put their thoughts, photos, and whatever else they wished on special paper supplied by my family crew.

The items started to trickle in from all over the place – mailed to our daughters so as to keep dear ol’ dad in the dark. Daughter Shelley, who is into "scrapbooking," compiled all the items together in a special scrapbook.

Imagine my total surprise, first at the scrapbook itself, then to read through all these glowing accounts from friends and relatives. Some included photos from days long gone by while others brought up subjects from the past that were shared experiences with those individuals. A very humbling experience required the use of at least one large box of Kleenex.

Perhaps now would be a good time for us to pause and reflect, who in my life have I not told how much they mean to me. Or perhaps something they did for me that had a lifetime effect for me, shaped my life, or helped me through a rough time. And what about sharing those fun and sometimes hilarious events shared with each other.

Know anybody you’d like to present with a "This Is Your Life" tribute? Pick up the phone, a pen, or man the keyboard and get started. Your guest of honor will enjoy the surprise.

And, FR’s Finest… is still looking for FReepers to place under the Atta-Boy/Girl spotlights.

03-28-06 ~ Hall of Fame #15

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 04-10-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

It's no stretch to say: Diver Dave also serves The Finest Family as Driver Dave too :)Really nice presentation...Story & gifs to go along with!

Very good play on words, Majjie! Love it - thanks!

                           

[Billie]

Oh, my lucky day!!! Wait a minute, does this mean we have to work twice as hard?

Darn! How'd you figure that out? :)

[Billie]

A truly fine thread ... thank you, DD and Miss Bluebird.

Makes me miss my Mom and Dad, their good ol' dog Mickey, and all the rest of my family.

Was hopin' my favorite fox would have time to get here today. :) Thank you!

[Aquamarine]

This is very well written and Billie did an awesome job of illustrating (as usual). It does my heart good to see a man care about family so much, you just don't see enough of that anymore.

It's been a long hard day here helping the inlaws with spring cleaning, thankfully my hubby is taking me out to dinner. :)

[Billie]

This is very well written and Billie did an awesome job of illustrating (as usual). It does my heart good to see a man care about family so much, you just don't see enough of that anymore.

Oh, it's good to see *you*, Aqua! Thank you so much. :)

[Mama_Bear]

Darn! How'd you figure that out? :)

Well, people say I'm smarter than I look. LOL

[Mama_Bear]

Hi ((((((((Lil' Sis))))))))). I think about you often and hope you are doing well. So nice to see you here today!

[DollyCali]

Oh, Dave what a wonderful tribute to your loving and large family. It is such a shame to see families with estrangement & a joy to read of yours.

Thank you for taking the time to share the journey & the photos with Billie so she could do "her magic"

And Miss Billie Blue////.It is so beautifully done with the transitions from the early black & white years to the colorful present. The Pledge you created is awesome.

GREAT JOB to two of the finest of THE FINEST!

Been a whole lot bouncy the past couple days with extreme headaches & extreme back problems. Lots of appts tomorrow including a trip to chiropractor.

The old Gray mare..etc...

[Billie]

Well, people say I'm smarter than I look. LOL

LOL! I bet you can even tell time and know what day it is. :)

[Majie Purple]

"Very good play on words, Majjie! Love it - thanks! "

For all you do this THANK YOU! Is for you...:)

[Billie]

And Miss Billie Blue////.It is so beautifully done with the transitions from the early black & white years to the colorful present. The Pledge you created is awesome.

GREAT JOB to two of the finest of THE FINEST!

You always have the nicest things to say, Dolly. Thank you so much. Dave's one of the best at making it fun and such a breeze to put together!

Hate to hear you are having such headaches and backaches so much lately. Hope the chiropractor can give you some relief.

[Majie Purple]

"...thank you, sweet Maj..."
Thanks for the sweet response. You sweet you, you! :)Did youu follow all the you's I used? :)

[Majie Purple]

I gotta say that changing colors bear is awesome!

[Billie]

:)

(((((((hugs)))))))))

I need to leave again for a while. Thanks, Majjie.

[dutchess]

Billie and Dave. Again awesome job today....both of you. Am suffering from return from vacation tasks....wish I could spend more time here. Billie...you found some beautiful "greetings" that you personalized. I'm certain to "snatch" mine :o) Emailed you but no hurry to get around to it. Need to start "dad duty". (P.S. Giz is doing GREAT!)

[LadyX]

What a beautiful collage of *our* two boys..:))
Having watched Christian and Logan grow up here on The Finest, we claim them as kin...

Dave, they are so blessed to have you guiding their development. Too many boys have little male influence in their lives, much less one as caring and wise as you are.
Compare what they receive from you with a Day Care facility, or sitters in their respective homes. Your daughters must be ecstatic, knowing they are in your loving hands.

The descriptions of you and your family are heartwarming, representative of the true American spirit. No doubt 50 years from now, Christian and Logan will be praising their grandfather in a similar way..:))

Not bad for a tin can swabbie..:))

It's a tough job, but you can do it...
just don't power wash the kitchen floor!

Hugs for Christian and Logan
from Aunty M...

[Mama_Bear]

LOL! I bet you can even tell time and know what day it is. :)

Yep, most days. ;-)

Cute bear!

[luvie]

Thanks for the gift of my name. It's so pretty!

[MEG33]

Guam:USS FRANK CABLE is the second of three ships in the EMORY S. LAND class, providing mobile support to surface ships and submarines.

May God Keep Safe All Who Serve Our Country

[lonestar]

This was really great; Diver Dave is a good guy. Billie is a good girl.

Gives me an idea--

"This Is Your Life, Weinie."

Weinie