Angel

For many years, my Dad made fruit baskets for others.  He'd make several trips to the produce market to fill up the back of his pickup or van with bushel boxes of Washington apples, navel oranges, grapefruit and tangerines.  Plus nuts and other things.

The garage always smelled wonderful.  To this day, the smell of citrus reminds me of Christmas.

My brother would help unload all those boxes in the garage where they worked.  Dad would mix them around.  Everyone at the garage and gas station would get a box.  He put bags of walnuts in them too.  

This picture above is from the cemetery.  Mom and I visited and placed a wreath on Dad's grave before Christmas.  Journaling: 

"Last Christmas Dad was very sick.  This year he's making fruit baskets and building fires for the angels.  Dad's helping Pop Pop Harry make pancakes for the angels."

Dad kept busy and was always trying to do things for others.  He also would drive his 1940s Willys jeep and plow neighbors driveways in the winter.   

The penny on the layout is a 1953 penny (from the year I was born).  My sister found it and mailed to me with a note that said "an angel was thinking of us".