Those Wild and Crazy Dahlins: THE VIDEO

This VIDEO will be the front door of my blog for a short season to debrief any misconceptions about Markie D and his Family. On handheld devices and mobile apps - most people do not see the column that exists to the right of each New Post. Today we are a happy, healthy, bunch of high energy people who love each other and have a great legacy of open hearts.  Enjoy the Video...

And in the next couple of Post, I will be sharing another one of the most classic Dahlin Stories where we lose half of Venice in a storm at Salton Sea.

But since it was just my father's birthday on September 1st, I think I will put the link to his tribute here.  

Carl Dahlin "the Mayor of Venice."

Enjoy Markie D.

Veteran's Day Memorial and Marbles in the Mouth

November 1970: "Mumfer bafumbbbfe humferummmba"

"No! Keep practicing" my dad said tersely as he came back inside after standing on the back porch and watching the electric meter spin.

It seemed like he had been out there forever. He cursed the thing for spinning too fast. He rang the ancient fire bell (the one with the bullet holes) to wake up the rest of the viking tribe.

"Mumfer bafumbbbfe humferummmba" I said again this time pleading―knowing that the Wolf pack would descend from the third floor to interrupt a warm Saturday morning spent with dad.

Don't ask me how, but dad knew exactly what I was complaining about.

"Buuuu myyy mouthhhmfa iss hurmmmperuing?"

"I don't care how much your mouth hurts." He said in response to my last garbled and gagging words. "You're going to keep the marbles in there and you'll  keep reading that sonnet until you can pronunciation improves."

I had lost the election at Saint Monica's to Terry Balantine for Freshman Class President. He had a really well crafted speech (probably written by his mother). It was cleaver. It was funny. He began his speech by talking about mini-skits. He had gotten everyone's attention when he said that he wanted his speech to "be short enough to be interesting and long enough to cover the subject." At this all the hormonally-charged freshmen-boys cheered and the attention starved girls were flattered as the pubescent boys looked around lustfully.


UGHhhhhhhh... How was I supposed to follow that? I was doomed. My mom had written me speech which sounded just like her―not me!  I shoved it into my pocket and walked up to the podium and tried to ad-lib. That was probably about the stupidest thing I ever did.

I stared at the audience inside Cantwell Auditorium like a deer in the head lights of a oncoming car. Words were slow coming out and it never got any better from there. There was no Hollywood ending... no happy hands... no dance ...just utter and complete failure.

Andrea must have thought I was a complete looser.

I was!   My hopes of her falling in love with me were dwindling.    


Mom asked about her speech - I lied and told her I read it. Dad found out and asked me to read it to him. I tried and mispronounced half of the words... I had a whole long list of things I couldn't say correctly and half of those words were in that speech.

He might have been the only person in the world who knew how terrible my diction was... He might have been the only one in the world who knew I stuttered (most people thought I was just joking around - and when I did stutter I played it off). But he cared and he tried to help me.

Hence the marbles in my mouth. 

The only thing was that dad was summing the Wolf Pack and they would make fun of me, so I had to get rid of the marbles and spat them back into the bag Kurt had used to collect them in.

It was a Saturday. Dad was home and it would be a Dahlin work day. Dahlin work days were pretty chaotic. It usually meant cutting back the forest of bamboo and ivy that had begun to grow over stuff. It meant shifting junk from one area of the yard to another area―and most certainly meant that we be juggling the million boxes of the billion decrepit National Graphics my mom had been collecting since 1952.  They had been moved from room to room in the attic to the second floor - to the sun porch to the carport to the patio and back several times.






My poor dad. Now he had not only to get them moving―he had to keep them focused. This was the hardest task of all. The older boys seemed to have a pain threshold for work that did not last much more than about an hour and this drove him crazy. I knew that after a lot of screaming and consternation it would be dad and me.

 I didn't mind the work and besides I wanted to please dad.

I finished gagging on the marbles and  returning the moist glass-gems to the baggie and dad was on the stairs beating the walls and ceiling with a broom handle.

"Up and at 'em. Time of the harvest moon.  Let's go, go, go, go go, go go" he would say as rapidly as machine gun fire. Beating the broom handle on the ceiling in cadence (this was probably from his days spent as a Master Sergeant in the Marines - during WW II in the South Pacific). This was his regular routine for Street Cleaning Day.



The Blasers, next door, had already been up and doing their Saturday morning chores. Mr. Blaser has them all pretty well trained and disciplined in chores and yard work. This is what made me also feel sorry for my dad - because at our house it was such a circus and so difficult to keep the boys motivated.



(pictured Tommy and Mrs. Blaser)




"Come on girly-men" he said about all the guys upstairs with long hair. "Let's go, go, go, go, go! Party all night - sleep all day. Oh, the big man on campus. We're burning daylight...Up and at 'em"


He sped by - returning to the back porch stairs to clank the fire alarm some more.

CLANK CLANK CLANK CLANK CLANK CLANK rattled the firehouse bell.  I'm picturing my dad as if he was wearing his uniform getting his men ready for drills.






By this time, the entire neighborhood knew what was about to take place: the Arnolds behind us - the Tripps, the Nargies, the Steadmens, the Vasquezes, and the three Lennon families that surrounded us.



(* Pictured: Cheryl Arnold as Miss Santa Monica - who lived in the house directly behind us)



















                                (Frank Nargie across the street)
















(picture of Vasquez family moved from Harding to Naples 4 houses over)








                                         








                                            (Bruce came by - Dad tried to get him working)











 (*Tripps across the street - next to the Nargies and the Fraternity house that burned down) )
















This meant that Billy Lennon (pictured to the right) might come by to pick up stuff for the Halloween haunted house or for the 4th of July extravaganza held in their backyard.








After lots of grumbling and oatmeal the work party would begin and neighbors began gathering to watch the show.  I'm telling you this was better than cartoons on Saturday mornings.

It ended up the older boys dropped off one by one while dad and I worked together until 5 o'clock when the sun was setting and I loved every minute of it.         HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY

                                               Harding Avenue another beautiful day in Paradise.

 A picture of the grand old house. 

Miss you dad. 

(* Picture of Cheryl Arnold by Cheryl Arnold Mosely)

(* Picture of Tripp family by Darleen Tripp Beringhele) 

      

The Steps of the Harding House: Celebrating 60 years of Freedom

Thank you to all those who gave their lives so that we could have the liberty and the freedom to safely assemble on stairs and front porches - We remember you... we honor you... we thank you... 

1955

 1957

Left to right Karl Mary Mark (in diapers) Erick Tony  

1960 with Ford Woody in background  

1962   handmade clothes

first row L-R Mary Karin Erick Mark 

Second Row L-R Karl Kurt Dad 

Third row top left Tony top right Kris  

     sidewalk repair 1965 

1973  reenactment of the big accident 

  Swat team and animal control 

Karl, Theresa, Vicky, Vicki, Irma, Mark, Erick

                                         1978 Grandbabies

L-R Tony baby Erika, Mark, Irma, Theresa, Kris, Mary 

 going to the dogs  L-R Bluin Randy

 1979  L-R Uncle Mark. Erika, Tim, Tom, Kurt 

 1980 

L-R mom called "H. Joan" Irma, Kurt, Mr. D, Karl (top) Janet, Mark, Marilyn (top center) Mary, Theresa (second row), Dianna (above Theresa), Kris, Erick and Bill

                                                 Mid 80s   more grandbabies

  1999 foundation and pillar repair 

 2012 

Paint 

2014   Neighborhood Lennon (cousins) 

Kippy, Tommy,  Jeffery, Kevin, Michael

 

DAHLINS 

"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."~Erma Bombeck

Happy Memorial Day FROM HARDING AVE VENICE CA.  

Tribute to my big brother, Karl Dahlin! 2.0

This is my Pictorial Tribute to my big brother, Karl H. Dahlin, who passed away last Monday morning, APRIL 7th at 9:25 am.   (I make sure to say that the time was specifically 9:25 am because those digits become very significant).

Karl was born on August 13th, 1948 at Saint Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California (the second boy of the Dahlin tribe).


Mr. and Mrs. Dahlin, had one boy... then Karl...then another boy... then another boy... then another boy...

Five boys in a row - all about a year apart... (pictured from left to right) Karl, Kurt baby Erick with mom, Kris then Tony.



1955 - THEN IT HAPPENED: THE MIRACLE a Girl!   YEAH!  "We got one! We got one!"




Pictured from Right to Left  are the boys in descending order in their John Travolta suits - wide collars (way before their time) Tony, Karl, Kris and Kurt.  Erick, Mary and Mom centered

Jan 1956 - Here is Karl seen to the right at 7-years-old, being pulled in a wagon by big brother, Tony, at the new house at 925 Harding Ave in Venice.

From Left to Right Karl...Erick...Kurt...Kris...Tony(standing).
(Not pictured is Mary 1 year old)


Little did Karl know at this time that His mother was one month pregnant with another baby... due sometime in August!





August 13, 1956 -  The blessed event happened on Karl's 8th Birthday. Mom brought home another boy and presented Karl with his birthday present...a baby brother, Mark!

Dec. 1956 - 4 months later here I am, the baby on the floor, and Karl (in the very back, LEFT) can't take his eyes off of his precious birthday present.  

Ahhhhhhhhhhh....... 

The next Christmas here we are again on year older.

from Right to Left

Kurt...KARL...Erick...Tony...Mary...Kris and Mark on the rocking horse!

Here we are in 1960ish with address on pillar of "Harding" house...925 (Pay no attention to the clothes I'm wearing in lower right hand corner), and look at handsome Dad and cute KARL, far left standing behind Mary.

Now for "All Saints Day" (same early 60's era)

 Karl as First Pope 

About the same time Karl (rear right - Tony, next to him, probably standing on tippy-toes).














Same time, entire gang in front of Harding house...Karin crawling on ground probably eating snails...(Karl looking down in concern - either for her or for the snails - not sure!).

















Another Christmas goes by... Kurt and KARL











A year or two later sporting summer tans (probably just returned from one of our infamous excursion to either Kings River or a Salton Sea.

Order of appearance LEFT to RIGHT rear... KARL...Kurt...Tony (in back, probably standing on tippy-toes) Kris.

Front - Erick..Karin...Mary...Mark (and please don't look at the see through shirt) "ughhh!"










                            Karl at 13, the best looking of the bunch














This is about the time Karl brought home Bob from Saint Mark's school and he ends up staying and becoming part of our family.

Couple years later 1964-1965  Karl (center rear)
Tony definitely standing on Tippy-toes!








July 1964 just before heading out on one of our notorious family vacations to Salton Sea or to the Kings River.


Karl just before his 16th Birthday!

Pictured Left to Right KARL...dad, ("Mr. D" Carl with a 'C"who we called "daddio" at that time)  Kris and his baby brother, Mark ahhhhhhhhhhhh!









Karl taught me how to fish...
Kurt...Karin...Karl...and Mark in sombrero


                                 













                     At Salton Sea 1965

Dad sleeping on the ground, Kris in front, Me flexing behind... Erick doing something... and who knows what KARL and Steve Smith were thinking!








The British Invasion: "The Four Mop-Tops i.e. The Beatles!




Hair starts to become an issue here is Karl on one of our infamous Saturday "Hair cutting days" not wanting his hair to be cut...It is a water shed event that paves the way for all of the long in Venice CA.














Karl single-handedly corrupts the Lennons and leads them down the path of all things, "long-hair" most notability Pat Lennon and Billy.

























1973 Picture with entire family Including Bob and David and Lisa (don't forget Poochie) -  by this time our dog is the only one with short hair!

Pictured Top row Left to Right Mr. D...Mark...Karin...Bob...Tony(definitely on Tip-toes) Erick and KARL

                       Mom with Lisa and David - Kurt with Poochie... Mary... Kris kneeling (bottom right)   

1973ish, You can see one of Karl's boats in the background parked on the front lawn of 925 Harding

(above) Karl second from right! 

Karl pictured far-left in front of old dead Christmas - tree and the Troop 32 Scout Bus

 1973 - 1974 

Karl and Tuna Canyon Crew

Mid 1970's Picture taken at Saint Mark's Hall 

Family Siblings including Bob (LEFT to RIGHT) Erick...Karin...Kurt...Mary...Bob...Tony(sitting not on Tip-toes) ...Kris...Mark..  and KARL far right!

A couple years later,  Mom with all the siblings (along with Pinky Parlett and Irma)

All ten of us with Irma

End of the 70's Karl front Left.

Late 90's (reunion) all the natural born boys in order from LEFT to RIGHT

Tony...KARL...Kris...Kurt...Erick...Mark













Four Brothers 2007 in Utah


Tony (kneeling) Mark (background) Kris... and KARL to far right!

Our family at my mother's memorial service August 2009











Karl in his element with our "Real Family" at the 2013 Harding Avenue Reunion at Donny's House:
Blasers
Dahlins
Lennons
Charlie
Rita
Koz ..etc...etc...

Karl (front bottom third from left)

A recent picture I took of Karl, this past July (at Donny Blaser's house) just before his 65th birthday.

My big brother was very special to me (of course, since I was his birthday present) Karl was extremely bright...and very talented.  He greeted me at my birth and I had the chance to be with him at his peaceful passing...interesting enough, on Monday morning at 9:25am.

He made custom built cabinets for the remodel at the kitchen for 925 Harding ave... As a craftsman he did work at Bob Dylan's house and I remember when he brought back a pair of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's shoes from the custom work he did there. He did work at Cheech Marin's house (of Cheech and Chongs).

Karl could do anything he set his mind to and taught me how to make 90 degree cuts without a T-Square - I still can't figure out how he did it.


Beside a rich fishing legacy...Karl leaves behind three children: David (Married to Malyn - two grandsons Westin and Waylin and one on the way), son Michael and Daughter Karlee...

...in addition to Janet... 5 or 6 brothers, two sisters...and a bazillion nieces and nephews.









Karl you are loved...I will miss you!  

(your birthday present) Baby Brother... Mark