Monday, December 8th will be one year since my father passed away. The few years before his death were long, painful and emotional for us so in all honesty his passing was in some ways a blessing.
The most important thing in his life was his art. In some ways, it was the only thing. He wasn't truly happy unless he was painting or designing something or talking to someone about it. He was a Letterhead down to his bones. He didn't socialize much but he loved it when one of you stopped by or called or wrote. He was in his glory at a Letterhead meet.
Which brings it now to me. It's been a year since I dropped by Letterville. You have all been very welcoming and kind. In the beginning I wasn't even sure I should post but now I've paid my taxes and you're stuck with me.
One special thank you I need to make is to Francisco Vargas. Cisco, you've been a true friend to me over the past year when I needed one. About 11 months ago, I got an email asking me if you could write an article about my father and that turned into a great friendship. One of many silver linings.
As for my father, hopefully he is at peace and happy now.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Welcome home Kimberly. Your posting & the passing on of your fathers legacy in various ways is one of the silver linings for the rest of us. I really liked that antique photo you posted of the old sign shop (ace or something?) & of course the LOVE print your father printed up of his unique lettering style was another great gift. I look forward to the video you sent out. I guess many others, like me, will be getting to know & respect Al & his work through your involvement on this board. Thanks, I'm sure is honored that you are here.
By the way it will be 11 months tomorrow since my dad passed after a long & exausting battle with Parkinsons. I arrived this morning in his house for the first time since then, so I too am experiencing the season of the passing of a loved one. And I am happy to be able to see the blessing in it too.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
How nice it is to put a name with a face. If you don't mind me saying so, you are much better looking than Al ever was.
I look forward to a continuing friendship with you and hope that we cross paths sometime in the future. It will be very special to continue to remember Al through you.
Thank you for all the remembrances you have shared about your father. For us old timers who knew and loved him they are some very special times. I have two sons and hopefully when I am gone they will have the inclination to share some of their memories with others.
Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
Welcome Kimberly, Don't listen to that ole smoothie Ray Chapman. lol Seriously, I met your dad once in Tulsa at a letterhead meeting at Western Sign Co. He and I were staying at the same motel. I had driven there and your dad had flown in. I offered to let him ride with me to the meet and as they say "the rest is history". He was quite a guy! The world is a more beautiful place because of his time here. He is at peace now! Again, welcome! '
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Kimberly,
It's wonderful having you on this BB. You add refreshing spark with your input.
Nettie
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Kimberly, You add so much life to letterville through your posts! Your dad's spirit lives on through you!
I also lost my dad last Dec. 11th. I will cherish the good memories, along with you, Doug, and some others on board.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Kim, It's been very rewarding seeing so much of your dad come public through you....a part of him that he never seemed able to release. His transition went smoother for those remaining as a result of that. Please teach Cisco some new recipies!
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Kimberly I enjoy your posts too! Your Dad seemed like a wonderful person. And you are right about Cisco. A true gentleman and friend. Rick.....I LIKE Cisco's cooking!!! He makes some of the meanest tacos around! Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Kimberly, like the rest, I consider your presence on this board a blessing. So we're stuck with you now? Good news!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Kimberly
It is always great to read your posts here on the board. Those of us who have a passion for our art often forget how it impacts those we love... but it is a passion we can't ignore for it must come out for us to be fulfilled and happy.
I enjoyed meeting and chatting with you last spring at the Conclave. The LOVE print you gave me will be cherished and hang poudly in our new home.
I now have a great appreciation for a man I never met as well, through your sharing of his memory and wonderful work.
Thanks!
-dan
Posted by Robin Sharrard (Member # 388) on :
Kimberly, Thank you for continuing to share your fathers inspiration through your posts and sharing the treasures of his life. Any father would be proud of the way you are keeping his spirit alive! Robin
Posted by Jim Mulligan (Member # 1956) on :
Kimberly,
I have three daughters. I hope one of them appreciates my work and skill like you appreciate your dads. Daughters are a blessing.
Regards,
Jim Mulligan Cardinal Manufacturing, Inc. Indianapolis, IN
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
Welcome to Letterville,Kimberly!I too find your posts refreshing. Thanks for keeping your Dad's spirit alive. Judy
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
Most of the time when I start my day, I turn on the BB like the morning news. This morning I had an early start on doing some installs, so I didn't see this till right now. Wow...Kimberly, those were some kind words you layed out there. You're very welcome, and thank you. I think we'll be friends for a very long time. I'm glad I asked about writing about your father, even though I never met him, I had heard of him. I'm sure your father knew you were very proud of him. Now we just need to find out when his story will come out. Stayed tuned everyone, hopefully soon! As you know I'm also waiting for my Cuba story to come out.
Rick you say teach me more receipes. Beans, Rice, tortillas, Tacos de carne asada, salsa, salada, what more does a guy need to learn?
Cheryl, I'm glad you liked my tacos, next I'm working on making crab enchildas, ummm hummmm or even rolled lobster taquitos yummy yummy for your tummy. Did you read that Rick? Just kiddin amigo... Oh yeah Cheryl, thank you for your generous words also Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Thank you all so much for your kind words. It made the day that much easier. z
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Roy, Were you amongst that group of jokers, er...I mean Letterheads who lettered the motel room windows in the middle of the night? For some reason I thought it might have been that Tulsa meet. I'll have to dig out those pictures!!! He laughed about that all the time. For someone who always "followed the rules" he sure had fun that night.
Posted by Wilson Ardmore (Member # 3230) on :
Hi Kimberly,
I have to say this.... The Important thing about your father on this day is to celebrate his presence on the planet. When you think of how his ideas influenced a great number of us funky painters who thought we were good until we saw his stuff and the helping hand through personal contact or in some form of printed comunication that cccould be instructional and a challenge is well worth just hearing the name "Al Zanetti".
I celebraate and salute! Jack Wills
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Kimberly, Today, Dec. 11.is the day which will mark one year that I lost my dad too. Somewhere there is the drive to keep it alive, and maybe it will be through artwork. I do feel the spirit of my dad who helped me with anything I wanted to achieve. He just worked us hard when we were little, and made us do everything correctly, step by step! He was quite an artist and magician too. He also appreciated hand lettering and pinstriping and collected anything he could when the signpainter traveled through the Keys (to where my dad lived for 30 years) snapping rather large jobs. He even acquired a striping brush for me from him which I keep stored in my keepsakes. I promised my father that I would eventually get practicing the striping. With your dad's video, your Dad and my Dad will be closer to me now.
[ December 12, 2002, 12:21 AM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
I think I sort of difted off on the originality of the post. Maybe by trying to keep humor on a receipe subject. (excuse me folks) But I can relate to Kimberly's loss. I also lost my father in September of this year. I know to some who have been around here over 4 years will remember while I was traveling I lost my biological father. I also had a stepfather who raised me since I was 5. I was fortunate. While he was alive I had a plane ticket to go to the New Orleans Meet at Kathy's Place. I had canceled my flight to stay with my mother at that time. He had a stroke and then another one the second was Major. We didn't when he was going to go. One day while visiting him we were talking, well I was he lost his speach. I told him I passed up the meet to stick around to make sure he was going to get better. He made a funny sound like why in the hell did you pass up the meet? I answered because I was worried about you. He smiled. This slightly foggy morning I went to the cememtary for the first time since he was buried (with honors, Korean Vet) I knew it was in front of block 27, somehow I could not find his marker. His plaque is on the way, But I knew he was in the area where I was. So after hunting for awhile. I parked myself by a tree, shed a few tears and spoke with him, somehow it seemed like I felt his presence. Like he could hear me. I know he's in peace and out of pain now. In my case, all we can do is just remember the good times. When I did the research on your Dad, Al Zanetti it was a trip and also a challenge. To find and search for people over the internet who knew him, making phones across country, doing interviews. I almost felt like a newsreporter doing a documentry on a very famous person. And you know what I found out? I was right, he was. Of all the people I spoke with not one person said anything bad about him. In my books...he was A SOMEBODY!
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Aņo Nuevo
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Kim - last night I finally got around to watching Al's video. What a treat it was to see and hear him again, and remember how he looked before the cancer drained his body.
It's funny how we forget some things about people, but I had allowed his voice and face mannerisms to slip from my memory. It didn't matter that the woman on the tape kept asking dumb questions, Al was still doing what he loved to do. I also know that he could letter a lot better than he did on that show, but he was pressed into an envoronment that was not normal - hot lights, little easel, and the pressure of trying to talk and work at the same time. It is not easy - I've had to do it several times.
I was alone, just Al and me, and I had to smile a lot as he was obviously nervous and trying to find the politically correct words. Also, I will admit that I shed a few tears also. As you know, it is hard to loose a friend.
Thank you again for sharing Al with the rest of us one more time.
[ December 12, 2002, 09:34 AM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Yes Ray, I agree. I wasn't sure that I wanted to watch the tape but when I did I actually found it comforting to see him looking healthy and happy again.
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
you say teach me more receipes. Beans, Rice, tortillas, Tacos de carne asada, salsa, salada, what more does a guy need to learn? ![[Wink]](wink.gif)