Found on ebay

[Crabby]

Every so often I do an ebay search for my Olde Man's original watercolors. I had never seen this one before, and would spent more than the 300 they were asking for, never the less I rescued this from the owner who thankfully had left it in the original plastic cover.

This is a self portrait of him leaning on a Schweitzer (?) I know he owned an army surplus TG-3 but that's a mid-wing. The place is the Benzie airport in Frankfort Michigan. The tow plane would still be on the ground obscured by the wing of Thee Old Man's lunch break support. I think they used a Citabria but not too sure. They also had used a Volkswagon powered winch for a while. The time frame based on Thee Olde Man's hairdo, and beefy musculature, was probably early 50's.

After I received this (it was carefully wrapped and protected) I got it framed for prosperity, The title? "It Seems Like Only Yesterday"

Frankfort Michigan was and still is a haven for sailplane enthusiasts from all around the world.

[MKelly]

That's a really nice bit of art Crabby.  My mother was a very accomplished weaver - I treasure the examples of her work that I have.

Mike

[skyraider]

Crabby,
     Great recovery of the "olde man's" art work as it truly captures the thrill of flight and what dreams are made of.

Skyraider

[Don McLellan]

Your 'Olde Man's' artwork is fantastic!  Truly a great find.

Cheers,
Don

[Arnold S]

Wow that is amazing Crabby.

Both the picture itself and in “bringing it home”

Andrew

[OZPAF]

What luck to find it Crabby.

It captures the enjoyment and the relaxing atmosphere very well.

John

[AndyB]

Magic... :-)

That's a really good picture, too.

A.

[Crabby]

I wish I was a skilled enough wordsmith to craft a paragraph or two that would relate my memories of that time and place. We return there to vacation when we can. When my mom passed Thee Olde Man took her ashes to a friend who still worked at the Benzie Airport, and they rigged a coffee can to the Citabria and spread her ashes over the part of Lake Michigan where we used to swim. When Thee Olde Man passed, I tried to do the same, but when I brought it up everyone there thought it was a hair-brained and dangerous scheme and looked at me like I just escaped a nut-haus. Oh well. That was then this is now. Plus Thee Olde Man had connections and charisma that few closed doors and minds could block. The Greatest Generation lacked fear if I may make a faulty generalization... I took a kayak instead and made a zany ritual out of simple spreading of ones ashes. My brother made the job more efficient by getting himself killed so I took him along too and spread him at the same time. Now the spirits mingle in the currents just off shore in Lake Michigan near Benzie Airport.