1 down, 29 to go...

The 2 pictures above are the same unit (a 4-plex) they moved from the upper right floor to the left basement in order to save around 10/month in rent. Either being evicted or saving a few dollars a month was always the reason for having to find another place to live.

Dads Photos for his Memoirs

I spent several hours with my dad driving around Salt Lake taking pictures of all 15 houses he lived in from birth to high school graduation. (with 2 very patient children in the back) This is giving him the push he needed to put the pen to paper and start writing about his childhood.

As I have had a few of my friends fathers pass away over the years I've always tried to put myself in their shoes of how difficult it would be to lose my own daddy (yes, I still call him that-I'm the baby of 5). Besides the daily missing and mourning- what would be hardest on me and my siblings would be him leaving us and taking his history with him. Believe you me--- he's got stories. Those stories and experiences have been very formative for me in my life and I'd like to be able to share them with my own kids one day.

His parents divorced when he was very young. His dad was a very abusive man, a mean alcoholic and didn't help financially after the spilt. My grandma was left to raise 5 kids alone which meant working multiple jobs and moving a lot. There were many times when my dad would go hungry, clothes were worn out and missed on opportunities because they couldn't afford it.

I admire my dad so much. He picked himself up time and time again. Did well in school, excelled in sports, served in the Army, put himself through college, was successful in his careers and most of all has been an amazing dad to 5 kids. I'm grateful the cycle of abused stopped with him, otherwise my life could have been a very different story.

I think his collection of writings will be the best gift given to the Barnum Family for generations to come. Thanks Dad!