Category Archives: USAF

Throwback #3: USAF Academy in Colorado

USAF Academy - Colorado

Welcome back to my new Travel series for Thursdays on A Compass Rose called ‘Travel Throwback’. This is where I dive into my old photo archives and share a photograph from my travels.  Fueled by the lovely snow photographs from friends I wanted to post up a wintery shot for the travel throwback.  This photograph was taken at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.   Continue reading

Advice from my Dad

Daddy’s little girl and TCK  |  RAF Upperheyford 1984
Day Three of Blogtember states, ‘Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered‘.  I remember recently sharing this advice from my dad with you all on Six Things You Should Know About Me. So for this post I decided to share a clip from my wedding video where I found it.  I also kept in the end of the conversation with our groomsman J as it really shows my dad’s happy personality.  He was always smiling and laughing and that is sometimes what I miss most of all.  

 
Advice from my Dad from Bonnie Rose on Vimeo.

Note: I will state that I did not write his advice word for word on my previous post, but from memory.  I acknowledge the difference in wording, though the meaning is the same. 

You can read about The Story of How He Died here. 
*Content belongs to Bonnie Rose of  A Compass Rose Blog


I Miss My Daddy

Day 12, Sunday of  the Challenge: What do you miss?

 I miss my Daddy. In August 2008 he was hit on his bicycle by a young driver, Faith Quick, under the influence of drugs with a prior record. She was never official charged for his death and spent just a few days in jail for the drug use. My father served 30+ years in the USAF, was a Veteran of Foreign Wars, and until his death was a teacher at Accelerated Learning Laboratory in Tucson, AZ.  He rode his bicycle to and from work to be eco friendly.  He is one of many who have been killed on bicycles by cars or buses.  I miss him a lot, and I really wish I could get the time back that was stolen from us, and from my sons. 

This is the last photo I had the opportunity of taking of him (July 4th, 2007) and fortunately it was with both of his grandsons. He had come to Oahu for a few weeks to visit after the birth of my son Maddox. 

At our home in Ewa Beach my dad read to my son Ronan with their long hair and in their Aloha Shirts. 

Dinner at Duke’s in Waikiki my son Maddox Charles with his namesake, Grandpa Charles aka ‘Grandpa Chuckles’. 

Two years after his funeral we returned to the USAF Academy in Colorado to visit my Dad in 2010.

It was the last time I have been able to visit his final resting place at the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs. 
Diary entry from my nine year old self back on the 6th of March, 1991 about how 
much I missed my daddy who was fighting in the Gulf War with the USAF. 

“March 6, 1991: It’s been over three months since Daddy has been in the Gulf. I really miss him. I’m not sure what I’m going to do first when Daddy comes home. Right now the time is 7:51 pm. I can’t wait! Wait! Until Daddy comes home!” 

(spelling corrected so you can read to understand)
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*photographs found here either belong to Bonnie Rose of Bonnie Rose Photography © 2013 All Rights Reserved | www.bonnie-rose.co.uk 

My Dad at the USAF Academy

My friend Roxy visited my dad last week at the United States Air Force Academy, where he was laid to rest in 2008. Her boys left beautiful flowers on his tombstone. Thank you Roxy Murphy, it means a lot to me. Wish I could have gone to see him with you. xx — with Roxy Murphyand 3 others at United States Air Force Academy.