Sunny
When my dad first met my mom he knew her as Sunny.
Anyone who’s ever met my mom knows she exuded optimism, joy and happiness. She earned the nickname while working at the five and dime and was a fountain girl before my dad saw her in the window working on her latest job, as window display designer.
Aug. 13 Mom would be 80. This Thanksgiving she will have been physically gone for 5 years. Hard to believe … because Mom is here with me every day.
I smell her, I feel her, see her, and hear her daily.
While recuperating these past few weeks, I figured out some computer stuff and waded through some early family movies.
I knew what we had was something rare to be treasured. I realized I lived a “Wonder Years” existence. But, now, in going through these old films, I’ve realized what brilliant people my parents really are.
Dad worked with a hand-me-down 8mm camera (not Super 8 with sound), and Mom worked with, well, her God-given talents.
My plan is/was to come up with a Fidler Family video to give everyone at Christmas on DVD, complete with chapter selections and extras, perhaps some narration.
What’s amazing is how little editing is required. My dad shot all this with the cuts in his head, conserving film and developing costs, physically cranking the camera between takes, and I guess, asking or telling my mother what he would like her to do.
Then there’s my Mom, always acknowledging the camera — and then ignoring it.
Pure brilliance.
So, I’ve edited this down to 3 ½ minutes, and it’s all their doing.
Happy birthday Mom.
I love you.
Sis
bonnie said,
August 8, 2008 @ 6:53 am
hey julie i am singing happy birthday to a wonderful mother and wife … all i know is shes in heaven and watching you and with you i just know shes sadly missed but i think she left this world knowing she had left her copy of her on all you kids shes was like my mother who passed away april 13 2007 ..just so much i have read in your diarys maked me feel like my life ok thanks for showing and sharing all your special memories.
Mary said,
August 16, 2008 @ 6:14 am
Hi Julie,
I stumbled across your website and blog because….I was having a down moment (being 47 and sending my son off to college a week from today!) and I was looking for good ole 70’s comfort…yeah, I have all the 70’s music on my ipod, but just wanted to see if anyone else was ’stuck in the 70’s’ like me. BTW, what gadget are you using to transfer your old flicks to video? I have tons that I’d like to convert. Thanks for your input. PS (do kids do PS’s today?) anyway, you should incorporate some of our funky 70’s lingo into your blog…it would be really bosso!
Mary
Administrator said,
August 16, 2008 @ 6:55 pm
Hi Bonnie and Mary,
Thanks for your kind comments!
The far out gadget I use for putting the old movies (which I’d already put on DVD) onto the computer is DVDXpressDX2 from ADS tech. The way I put them on VHS in the first place was to set up an old camera about 20 years ago and videotape the screen as Dad, Mom and I played them.
Keep on truckin’!
Julie
Julie said,
August 22, 2008 @ 1:36 am
Your mom was a very beautiful lady!
Peggy in FL said,
August 27, 2008 @ 2:35 am
Thanks for sharing this, Julie! Your mother was a doll and her nickname was perfect. I was grinning right back at her. Your dad was quite studly himself (I’m sure he still is). It’s obvious they were bananas about each other. Your boys will treasure those DVDs some day.
Show us some more!
Tony said,
September 6, 2008 @ 4:57 am
Julie,
WoW! What a beautiful tribute to your beautiful mom. Thanks for sharing it with us. I grew up in Southern California in the 70’s (I moved to the US in 1968 when I was 5 years old.) Now in my mid-40’s, I look back on those times and I get a great feeling of comfort and nostalgia. I LOVE THE 70′S!
And I’m glad I’m not the only one! My friends and I love going out to a local club that has 70’s Disco Night every Saturday. It’s such a blast to revisit all the cool tunes from my youth and to be surrounded by other people who are just as old as I am.
You’ve done a great job on the website. Keep up the good work.
Tony
p.s.
I love that you use the word “anyhoo.” One of my best friends and I are always saying “anyhoo… ” and it’s become a running joke with us.
Anyhoo… Thanks again!
fhel said,
October 17, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
hi cant open your video about your mom is it not available for viewing anymore?
Administrator said,
October 27, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
The video still appears to be available to me. Please Try again. It’s at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7cAV8qRXD8.
Julie