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| Frank Lambert Houser |
Here's a man that men should model after. Frank never argued with his wife, Betty. I'm sure he knew that no matter what he said or did, he was wrong and she was right (at least til she calmed down)! Here's a man who choose to work from home, one of many reason's was to help his wife raise their 7 young children. He was the chef of the family, he cooks the best roast you'll ever eat. He made sure that his wife didn't need to know how to open doors or pull her own chair out, because he made sure that he did these things for her until the day she passed.
Frank is also one of the most stubborn men I've had the pleasure of knowing. His persistence in life made it possible to learn how to walk over and over again after multiple strokes had rendered him immobile. Here's a man who reluctantly uses a wheelchair to get around (he has a bit of a balance problem - or lack thereof), yet insists on owning a large, friendly, shedding, over active German Shepard named Charlie. A dog smart enough to know that he can't catch her nor hold onto her if she choose to take herself for a walk (which she does on time to time and he just chuckles). Frank's had a few lessons' in gravity; falling, hitting his head, chuckling as he gets back up at the hospital where they great him by name as they sew his gashing cranium back together. He also has this uncanny ability to laugh at himself while helping you learn to laugh at yourself as you both find humor in life.
Our world could use more people like Frank. Maybe by getting his story out for the world to read, more people will become great by modeling their life after his.
Join in my in my weekly visits - Fridays with Frank. Find out his history; not just your typical died, married, children history, but find out the story behind the man we know as Frank, Dad, or Grandpa.
I have a few GREAT memories of Frank - I remember the time that Liz, Merry, Jerry and myself went to the Manti pagent with Frank and Betty. I cant quite remember if it was on our way back or on the way down, but we stopped at a donus shop, went inside and Jerry pretended she was blind and us girls were playing the part righ along, explaining what all the donuts look like etc. Frank was livid - he was not happy with us (not the first time), but as we were leaving he opened the door for Betty (as he always did) and we saw him keep slamming the door, it would bounce open and he would push it shut again and again, then we hear this little voice in the background "Frank, Frank my leg, Frank my leg" he was shutting the car door on little Betty's leg !!
ReplyDeleteI think Heather, Christopher, and I pretty much lived with Grandpa. I remember him always doing something crazy to make us laugh. In fact...when we talk about grandpa we tell these stories:
ReplyDeleteI remember we (Christopher, Heather and I) went with Grandpa to visit Ronald in the nursing home. Since we were going somewhere "special" grandpa had to get a carwash. He went through the automatic wash and put the car in park. When the green light came on to let Grandpa know the wash was done, grandpa put the car into gear. Well...the car was stuck and would not go. So Grandpa pushed the gas pedal ad hard as he could...it worked. Next thing I knew we slammed into a poll. Grandpa just kept in driving. He then turned a corner and Christopher and I watched as a hubcap went rolling down the street. We tried to tell Grandpa...he wouldn't listen. We finally made it to the nursing home. Grandpa then set the emergency brake (we are on a slope facing the main door to the nursing home) except...the brake was now in his hand. All he could say was, "What the Sam Hill"? I guess he could not hear us screaming that we were rolling toward the main doors of the nursing home. Then....just in time...he slams on the brake and finds somewhere else to park. Who knew so many things could happen in 15 minutes!
There was also another time we (Heather, Christopher and I) went with grandpa to pick up the dog from the groomers. On the way home, Grandpa rolled down the window so Charley could put her head out the window. When we got home grandpa rolled up the windows and walked inside the house; we followed. There was one problem, where was the dog. Grandpa stared calling for the Dog and she would not come. Grandpa then went with us outside to see if she ran away. Well...we looked toward the car and found the dog. She was still in the car with her head stuck, rolled up, in the window. The dog had her tongue hanging out gasping for air. Instead of being in a hurry to let the dog out so she could breathe and not die, Grandpa starts to laugh. He is laughing so hard he is crying. Luckily the dog gasped loud enough Grandpa put in the keys and rolled down the windows.
There was another time where donut (the fattest cat EVER) had a dirty bottom. Grandpa happened to be doing laundry when he used Spray and Wash on his clothes. He had this brilliant idea to spray it on the cats butt. Why not...it gets stains out of shirts. Well the cat licked it off and her butt was clean. One problem...she got so sick she almost died. He did not read the warning label that talked about not eating or drinking the Spray and Wash. When he tells the story now…grandpa laughs so hard he is crying.
There also was a time where there was a huge salmonella outbreak. We (Chris, Heather and I) were making cookies and grandpa gave us a HUGE and LONG lecture about not eating cookie dough. In the mean time grandpa is reading his “newest recipe book”. He then gets a brilliant idea to make his own mayo (remember we can’t eat raw eggs). Grandpa makes a Mason Jar of his “homemade Mayo” (with LOTS of RAW eggs). He takes a bite and comments about how the mayo is not so bad. I then say, “I thought we couldn’t eat raw eggs because of salmonella”. I wish I could have recorded his face when I told him that. Let’s just say he said, “DAMN it Sarah”. He then shoved the jar into the sink and went into his bedroom muttering under his breath. I didn’t know grandpa ever swore…and at me! hahaha