fathers

Today is Father's Day in New Zealand (September 5th). 
When I was in Samoa it was Father' Day (August 9th). 
and I last spoke to my Grandpa Beggs on US Father's Day (June 20th). 

GRANDPA BEGGS

June 2008, our last in-person visit

With three father's days this year and losing both my grandfathers in the last two months, it seems only fitting to post on the blog today. I love this picture - grandpa with me and a samoan tapa (siapo) on the wall. Grandpa & Grandma visited my dad in Samoa in the 60s during his Peace Corps service. 

Here they are in 1985:

From one of my Grandpa's geneology emails: "Adella was home at Thanksgiving and briefly dated Alan Beggs. She came back for a week or so at Christmas and they spent much time together. They were engaged Feb.6 and eloped and married March 1, 1937 - before the folks came back from Florida."

Grandpa was our family geneologist, following his father's lead. When I was in Belgium as an exchange student in '91-'92, he sent me detailed instructions to churches, graves and castles in Scotland to visit, as well as other European lineage back to the middle ages. When I did my infamous 50-mile "Easter Sunday bike ride of '92" to Dunmaglass and Dunlichity Church (where my grandma's MacGillivray side is buried near Loch Ness), the locals welcomed me like family and it was surely because of the connections I brought from Grandpa's letters. Grandpa and I always had a special connection with international travels, love for languages and penpals the world over (by 15 years after my grandma passed he had quite the roster of international girlfriends!). Learning Portuguese and active on email in his 90s, Grandpa was a model of living life to the fullest. He was also the patriarch of a family tree full of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It sounds like our family reunion last week at his memorial was second only to his 50th wedding anniversary celebration. So sorry to have missed it. He joined his wife on August 22, 2010.

6 of his great-grandchildren (my bro's 3 boys and my cousin's 3 girls), 2009

GRANDPA ARCHIE

Christmas, 2009

Archie, my grandpa on my mom's side, wasn't my blood grandpa (my mom's dad died a year before I was born, a veteran of the WWII Aleutian Campaign). Archie married my Grandma when I was 2, so he is the only one I've known. He dated my grandma before her first marriage and his brother married my grandma's sister - which made it extra special when they got back together after her husband's death. Archie loved garage sales, where he always (and only) offered 'two bucks' and often justified a purchase with "I don't know what it is, but it's the best one I ever saw!" That was reason enough to collect it. Arch was a good golfer, story-teller, dog-spoiler, and liked helping his grandkids get into trouble, even if it meant losing a tree in his yard because he let this granddaughter behind the wheel of a riding lawn mower a little too young. I think we've got a picture of him letting each of us sip beer as a kid (prompting my photo tribute below with my nephew Ryan last year). Archie had a great sense of humor, as you can see, and loved his three adopted grandchildren (even when we mercilessly helped him quit smoking). He passed on July 1, 2010.

Sarah, Grandma, Archie (Buddy) & me, Christmas 2005

Greeting me at the airport as an elf is "normal"

DAD

And finally, a third father's day for my theatrical father! Well, the two Samoan blog entries below are dedicated to dad and he's right: there seems to be a genetic predisposition to the Peace Corps that I've inherited. I could go on and on, but I'll paste below what I wrote for the Top 40 Under 40 award booklet last year, since they gave me a word limit. (I need one when gushing about my dad.)

Name the person you most respect and why?
(in 150 words or less)

I most respect my father, Jim Beggs, who has always led by example in pursuing fulfilling life work, accepting challenges, creating adventures and sharing his love for music. From serving in the Peace Corps in Samoa, to practicing family medicine in the public health service and rural communities, he has always valued hard work and dedication above high pay or recognition. Returning for a master’s degree in his 50s, he added health administration skills to his medical training and continues to work towards health care solutions. But above his inspiring work ethic, I respect how he has led a very busy professional life, yet found time to sing and play guitar around the campfire, guide our hikes like an expert naturalist, and show us the joy of curiosity and lifelong learning. His overwhelming return of respect to his children has made him one of my best friends as an adult.

Sarah and I had a great time at Aggie Grey's (the historic resort in Apia, Samoa) our last night, creating a photo collage of Dad's head in various locations about the lobby. For the full narrative of 'the phantom proprietor of Aggie Grey's,' click here for the slideshow.

I LOVE YOU DAD!

Happy Father's Day (again)