We weren't what you'd call a dress-up family. It seemed to me that my dad hated suits and ties, so I did too. For decades. Sometimes we got ourselves nice and fancy, though. I suspect this photo is from Easter.  

Surprisingly, Thomas J. Wingate left behind quite a bit of paraphernalia related to getting dressed up. I remember hearing my mom say that, when he got checked in at the hospital after his stroke, he gave her his watch to hold onto. Where is that watch now? Buried with him, probably. In some kind of box, where such things belong. Here's a bit more of what he left behind.

NOTE: I got a couple things wrong on this page. But follow the path below and you'll hear the truth. 

1. AN IMPORTANT EMENDATION ABOUT MY FATHER'S MODE OF DRESS
2. KNOW MEN BY THEIR TOOLS
3. THROW ME THE BALL, DAD
4. THE SNORING TAPE AND OTHER LOST TREASURES
5. GRINDING THE AXES OF OUR FATHERS