This morning’s TIE O’ THE DAY pic was taken at SLC International Airport in late 1974. Dad had returned from a big-game hunt in Alaska. His hunting adventure was scheduled to keep him occupied for two weeks, but he slayed his caribou, moose, and bear within just a few days. Of course, he came home early. But I think it had less to do with bagging his prey quickly, and more to do with the fact that he missed his pillow and was getting tired of his smelly guides.
And then there was always the Helen Factor calling to him when Dad was on the road. It wasn’t just that he missed Mom. It was the fact that whenever Dad was gone for more than a few days, he would come back to a new home improvement Mom had constructed. When he was out of town, she might have painted, or wallpapered, or worse. One time when he was gone, she tore up their bedroom sub-floor and replaced it by herself, then she had new carpet installed. Seriously, I think Dad thought he should hurry and get his Alaska hunting list taken care of and get back home ASAP, out of fear he wouldn’t recognize the house after Mom had it alone for two entire weeks.
But now you’re trying to figure out what this welcome home photo has to do with me and neckwear. Look closely. Those are my arms around Dad’s neck, and my feet are dangling– like a tie. Obviously, I was impersonating a Tie o’ the Day! And I didn’t even know it at the time.