I don't know who first uttered that witticism, but my dad has been saying it for years.   I was actually born  one month premature, but it must have been because I was ahead of myself.  I started growing, and didn't stop until I was fifteen years old.  By then I had reached my full height of 6'5".  I've always been impatient, I guess.

You get something from everyone when you're born into a family.  I got my dad's blue eyes, and his Irish temper.  I got my height and my sense of humor from my Uncle Frank, who was 6'8" tall, and ten times taller on the inside.  And I got my sweet disposition from mom.  There's no one sweeter on God's green earth than my mom.
 
 

Dad, Mom, Sport and Me.
Christmas, 1966.

Dad and I both attended Aquinas College, a Catholic Liberal Arts college in East Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, class of 1957, and I have a Bachelor of Arts in English, class of 1988.  I always tell him it's typical he should have a "BS" degree.  He uses it every day.  I guess you could say I have an honorary "BS", myself.
 
 

 
 

Mom and Dad,
taken at Aquinas College.
Summer, 1998.
 

Mom.
Loda Lake Wildflower Preserve.
Fall, 1998.
 

Dad.
Grand Haven, Michigan.
Fall, 1997.
 

Mom and Me.
Digital photo taken
at Studio 28 Theater.
Fall, 1998.
 
 

Me and Dad.
In front of Aquinas College
Academic Building.
Summer, 1998.

A drawing I did of Mom, July 3rd, 1999.

 

This is a drawing I did of my Uncle Frank Agrusa, as a young man.  Unc was more like a big brother to me, and we had some great times, together.  He did more than anyone to spark my interest in photography, and he was a great friend.   He took me fishing and camping, and taught me how to build things.  He taught me how to skin a deer, wire a room, lay concrete, and make great sandwiches.  He showed me how to load gunpowder and set the primer in .22 mm rifle shells, then took me to the range and taught me how to shoot.  We did a lot together, including things I'd never done before, and haven't done since.  But the thing we did most was laugh.   Unc was a great storyteller, and he loved to laugh.  He had a sparkle in his eyes that revealed his  inner child.  I wish we had more time together.  He didn't get a chance to finish building me.

Francesco John Agrusa
1935 - 1995

These are photographs of my mom and dad when they were engaged to be married.  Dad served in the  2nd Infantry Division of the US Army, based in Fort Benning, Georgia.  He was on active duty from 1958 to 1960, and reserve duty from 1960 to 1964.  They were married on November 19, 1960.

Dad passed away on May 19, 1999, one week after his 64th birthday.

I love my dad, and I miss him.  Every day I wish he was still here.
He was a good, honest, generous, hard working man who loved his family and gave us everything he could.  I was lucky to have known my dad,  and have him in my life every step of the way.

Mom, Dad and I.
April, 1999.