E. F. Froehlich (1897-1991) « Faith

Edwin Feltman Froehlich was born on February 15, 1897 in Loniconing, Maryland. He married my grandmother, Sarah Frances Moore on February 14, 1923. He died on March 5, 1991 in West Palm Beach Florida. He is the greatest person I ever met, the most influential in my life, and the best grandfather a person could ever dream of having. Along with Star Trek, almost everything I needed to know in life, I learned from him.

He taught me how:

To thumb my nose (I was 9 at the time)
To make trucks blow their hornes
To thumb my nose at truck drivers if they did not
When you spend a dollar, you need to to make up for it with two dollars
Younger sisters were to be tormented when possible
How to position lady fingers in rotten apples for just the right splat
No practical joke was too elaborate or too simple
Not to reach for peanuts when you are driving and tired
Not to take the world too seriously
If you cheat at cards, don’t get caught
When someone bests you with a practical joke, never open your mouth
It’s okay to use expired milk as long as it isn’t rancid
Don’t pick orange blossoms off his trees because you are killing baby oranges
You are never too old to enjoy life
Profanity need not be offensive or obscene if you use the right words
When you go off leaving a dead calf in the trunk of your car, for weeks, just go buy a new car
Peanut brittle is better if you shell your own peanuts
Orange juice should be freshly squeezed
Most gardening disasters can be righted with the judicial use of fresh cow manure
It’s more fun pranking your brother-in-law when he’s drunk
Never be afraid to be creative in your occupation on your tax returns (He usually listed his as tit-puller)
Don’t cheat on your taxes, but don’t pay a penny more than necessary
It’s okay to let the grandkids fight one another with the cattle prod
Purple dye cow Gentian Violet can be used on humans
Never ever consume unpasteurized milk products
You come out cheaper just giving the kid the $200 for the Saint Barnard puppy
The most beautiful music in the world is the sound of mooing cows
You need to add a little milk from Guernseys to have a better product
It is okay to throw the dang radio in the canal when it is too loud
Don’t be afraid of hard work
Don’t be afraid of working for people who think they are better than you are, socially
Stand up for what is right
There is nothing wrong with a little patriotism
The definition of a educated person is someone who knows where to go for answers
It’s okay to fight with your sibling as long as you don’t let it destroy your relationship with them
Heroics are not just for heroes
If you believe in something, fight for it
There’s nothing wrong with a good cowboy movie
Don’t be a fake
David was close to God because he was so human and constantly repented of his sins
Most importantly, he taught me how to love the Lord

The most important thing he taught me was that you are never a failure in life as long as you do not quit. The only failures are quitters. If you believe in what you are doing, keep doing it. That is success.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SJ Reidhead (aka The Pink Flamingo) is a writer based in New Mexico. The author of two published novels, both westerns: Dust Devil and The Second Mrs. Earp and two published works of non-fictions: TRAVESTY: Frank Waters Earp Agenda Exposed and A Church for Helldorado, Endicott Peabody's 1882 Tombstone Diary. One of the leading authorities on the life of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone during the Earp years, she is writing a series of murder mysteries set in modern day Tombstone. The author is also working on a book about fashion in the Wild West. When complete, there will be over 2100 unpublished antique photographs dating from 1855-1910.

The author's work has appeared in Wild West, True West, Blogcritics, and The Tombstone Times. Recently the author has had to deal with a father who succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease. This is leading to a book dealing with the frustrations of dealing with the frustrations of the disease, finance, legal, health-care, and things no one bothers telling families about it. A portion of the book will contain entries from a blog she kept, detailing the struggle with her father's AD. She is also working on a murder mystery series set in modern day Tombstone and Cochise County. Several books of essays on Christian living are currently in edits. A book of essays and revisions of articles about Wyatt Earp has been completed and will include her latest work detailing her theory about the murder of his second wife, Mattie.

SJ Reidhead has been involved in Republican politics since she was 'a little kid'. During the Reagan years she was a lobbyist working with various non-profit organizations who were attempting to salvage NASA and the American space program after the disastrous Carter years. In spite of ups and downs, and numerous disappointments, politically, it is obvious the only political hope for this country is via the Republican Party. Along with politics she is an opera fanatic, has been known to stalk baritones to the point of being a baritone junkie, and loves baseball.

The Pink Flamingo went on line on October 4, 2005.

THE PINK FLAMINGO STORY

It started out as a joke. During the seven years I worked with the girls of my parish, leading a youth group, one of the things that I stressed were manners. Part of having manners, the way I see it, is to know how to set a proper table, host a party, cater it, and clean up afterward. I was fortunate enough to have a group of very talented girls in my youth group. They learned how to plan for, and execute large church functions, very properly. During one such function I noticed there were several incredibly tacky pink flamingos sitting on the table. Knowing the girls were up to something, I said nothing. A few months later they did the same thing at a function I was hosting at my home. I said nothing. They had a birthday party for me. More pink flamingos appeared - and a joke was born.

Thanks to the girls, all of whom are now grown, I have a collection of pink flamingos. It has become an ongoing joke. When I began working on my political blog, I realized the only possibly title was The Pink Flamingo!