Brad and Karen

8/3/2019 Brad and Karen

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Pierce Family


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Brad and Karen were both born in 1949,Brad an Iowa native, and Karen a DenverBronco through and through. They metthe first day of college at Colorado StateUniversity. They married in June of 1971,produced three children and have five

grandchildren as of December 2011. Thisbook is a tribute to the love, joy andhumor they continue to share with us all.


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This book is a wacky collection of miscellaneous Pierce memories. One thing about memoriesis that each event creates a different memory. For example, my trip to the Grand Canyon is

diff

erent for me than the expereiences for Dad, Mom, Erin and Sean. We all contributed to thememories contained in this book in two ways: first, by experiencing them and second, bysharing our experiences about them.

We start this escapade on June 19, 1971 (Brad and Karens wedding day) and continue itthrough December, 2011. As is typical with the Pierce family, prepare for some joy, somehumor, some ribbing and some heart in the comments throughout the book.

Enjoy!

Family

Families are like fudge - mostlysweet with a few nuts.

~Author Unknown

1


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Mom: I like this photo of my parents and Kathleen.

Mom: pretty dress for $25. Myroomates mom said she knew

someone who sells wedding dressesand we were like, yeah, yeah, ok, ok.So finally we got nagged enoughthat we went down to the store andClyda and I both found our dressesfor $25. I took it home to show mydad and he said, "Well honey, youcan spend more than $25. If that'snot what you want it's ok." But Ireally liked this dress.

Dad: Guess how much it cost to

get cleaned? $100. It is a gorgeousdress.

Sean: You know there's no Bronco game on otherwise she'd have aradio earpiece.

CliffClaven: Its a little known factthat this church was in a movie byWoodie Allen called Sleeper.

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Mom: I remember thinking how happy I was and that I hoped we would live forever and ever.3


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Erin: I love this picture of Mom and Dad. So young and happy.4


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Dad: I remember Karen trying to shove a piece of cake down my throat5


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Dad: There aer the very first students I ever had.

Sean: When you rooks get your wingsyou can wear aviators. Until then...

ZuZu Bailey: Teacher says,every time a bell rings a pilotgets his wings.

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Dad: It looks like I'm holding a drink but it is paint remover and by the end of the day, it had eaten through the styrofoam glass.

Dad: I remember that day. There was a T-33out at the main gate. Every senior class gotto paint their class number and theiremblem on that plane to be displayed for the

whole year. Dale, Wes and I went andpainted our logo with a lightning bolt on it.

Mom: This was a party we had in the condos we livedin. These were other instructor pilots and theirspouses. This is where Kathleen came down during theWatergate scandal. I wasn't teaching during thesummer. We would get up in the morning and godown to the pool and she would get on the raft and I

would take her up and down the pool. Then I wouldget on the raft and she would take me up and down thepool. Talk about lazy. Then we would go back to thehouse and watch Watergate the rest of the afternoon.We went to Mexico one of the days and she went upto one of the kids and said,"habla espanol". And we

were like, "Kathleen, he lives in Mexico!" "I know", shesaid," I'm just practicing my Spanish."

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Sean: Poor Dad didn't have kids old enough yet to get him another beer.

Mom: That is where we had ourtrash and the racoons would come

to go through it. At night wewould hear them and then go out,turn on the light and the racoonsresponded with a look of, " yeah

what are you gonna do about it?"

Brad, Karen andGrandpa Youngblood

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13/50

Mom: Tim wasn't even 5 pounds when we broughthim home. The only reason the doctor let us bringhim home is because he was going on vacation. We

had to take him to the doctor everyday to getweighed. If he started losing weight, then we would

have to take him back to the hospital. He couldn't eatvery much because his stomach was healing, 2 oz at a

time.

Mom: That was all forest behind out house.Snakes and racoons and alligators. that was their

home, when they intruded in mine, they were introuble.

Dad: They had pine trees back there that wereabout 200ft tall and the pine boughs didn't start

until about 2/3 of the way up.

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Dad: I wore that shirt all the way through college. It was my uniform.

Mom: We thought these styles were wonderful.Now we look back and are like, "Oh my God!"

Tim: Here I am with "A Wild and Crazy Guy."

Erin: I never knew Tim's hair was so red!

Sean: Yeah Erin, he must've been adopted.

Dont call him Timmy...

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Mom: I was working around thehouse, at some point I noticedit was quiet. That meanttrouble when it came to Tim. Icalled for him and he wasntresponding. I couldn't find Tim,

I was frantic. I thought he wentoutside or something. He wasn'tanswering when I was callinghim. I finally found him here inthe bathroom brushing histeeth. I was really upset with

him. He got in trouble, but notbefore I got the camera.

Tim Trouble

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Tim: Irememberthat every Friday we would go to McDonaldsto do artsand crafts. And every Friday onthe way over,theradio station would play If Ilived in Colorado, by John Denver. We would sing it every time.

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Erin: I love this picture because I can hear her saying, "oooooh" since she does it to my kids now!

Erin Little

Flower

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18/50

Mom: We had to get a picture of you with Bronco gear on.

Dad:When I

firstglanced

at thepicture, I

thoughtthat was

Keely.

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19/50

Mom: I rememberwondering how Erin andTim were going to react tobeing in front of a crowd andthey weren't afraid one bit.

They kept asking, "is it myturn? Is it my turn yet?"

Tim: Erin was the Seanbefore the Sean.

Erin: Hey! He had to learn itfrom someone! I couldn't bethe goofy kid forever.

Sean: There is only one TheSean.

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20/50

Tim: I remember that Sean was a cool little brother to have.until he woke me up in the middle of the night.16


21/50

Tim : You unlock thiscloset with the keyofMoms imagination.Beyond it is another

dimension-

adimension of spaghettisauce, adimension ofSkroodles , adimensionofcup cake toppings.You're movinginto ameal of both Italianfood and Mexican food.You've just crossedover into the MomMeal Zone.

Skroodles?


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Tim: We have aGene Simmonsfan in the house!

Tim: I remember thatErin tried to lead

several times duringthis dance.

Erin: Only because youkept running offevery30 seconds to hang aspoon offyour nose.

Tim: First prize, a bike. Second prize, a set ofsteak knives.Erin: Me-"I won! I won! I won!" Tim-"I can'tbelieve she won for her coloring. She didn't evenfollow the directions and colored the whole thing!

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Mom: It must've been Grandma Moriarity if the kids are all "decorated.19


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Erin: Look at that. I had a 5-year head start and Sean still had more color at 1 month old.

Tim: I remember

walking to 7-11 onChristmas Eve inthat storm. It

was a crazy yetcozy day.

Erin: I rememberlosing one of myboots out there

and being so sadand cryingbecause mom

wouldn't let me go back outsideto look for it.Dad said I'd haveto wait unti l

spring for thesnow to melt .Looking back,I'm sure Dad

went outsidelater and got it.

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Mom: I drove home from Glenwood and Brad kept criticizing how I was driving. I said, "well, I've never driven in the mountains." "WHAT!?"

Sean: LACES OUT!!!

Tim: Why do we have poker visors? Were wecoming back from a day at the track?Erin: We must have been at GrandmaMoriarity's where we had a late night of

penny poker. She was tough!

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Mom: Dad remembers this birthday will all of the screaming girls.

Sean: This is where I discoveredmy love for sugar cubes.

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Mom: I really liked that backyard. It had a nice patio. The kids had a lot of fun back there.

Mom: My chuch group made thisfor me before I left Colorado. Myfamily and everybody made asquare. I love this.

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28/50

Sean: Pepper did really want to escape.

Sean: Tim may have had the trophiesbut I hadTHE POWEEEEEEEEER.

Erin: This is the costume Mom made and sewedfor mewithout an armhole.

Tim: Erin always was a little bit picky aboutthings.

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29/50

Sean: THEROCKET

CAAAAAAKE!!!! I had that

cake for 6 yearsin a row. The

top shot offlikean arrow whenyou squeezed

those white tabson the side ofthe blue tip.

Mom: Poor PepperTim: I ask you, the

casual observer, who ismost likely to havebeen the culprit in

dressing up this dog?

The person holdingsaid dog, or the twoinnocent bystanders

who happened to havebeen caught being

near this "person ofinterest"?

Tim: Iremember Dad

being banishedto watch theBroncos out in

the carport.Dad: Sean

peeking out thedoor. Engine tothe 1981 Toyota

Corolla.

Erin: Whatyou can't see isthat Mom putSean and I in

matchingoutfits fromChocolateSoupthestart of mymatching

clothing hell.

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G E


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1996 Graduation

Mom: My sister-in-law Eileen gave this dress to me when

she went to New York because it was someting goofy anddifferent. So I wore it as pajamas and then I put it in the

Halloween costume box.Erin: Sad, but true, this was found in Mom's closet as a

pair of pajamas she used to wear.Tim: We cant enter this into Wikipedia until we have aconfirmation from a non-biased third party. Any takers?

Sean: I rememberhating these nights.

Not only did I haveto stay at the back ofthe house but so didMom and Dad. Wewere trapped like

rats!

Growing up Erin...

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Moms 40th

Mom: This picture makesme laugh. All of the funthat the kids had.Sean: This goes to showthat there will always be alittle Grandma Moriarity

in all of us.

Erin: Wow, somany things to

comment on withthis picture

.either Sean'sdark make-up

eyes, the fact thatit looks like Erin

isn't wearing ashirt, 2 girls

dressed up andplaying guys, or

the super creepyFrank.

Tim: While thispicture is all aboutMom, it is classicfor Dad to be

wearing a dressshirt and

sweatpants.Sean: For the lasttime Erin, HEDIDNT STEAL

ANYTHING!

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Th S


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Tim: Often imitated but never duplicated - The Sean.

The SeanMom: what agoofy kid!

Erin: Sean was ona roll that day for

the pictures!Sean: You bring

the camera and I'llmake it rain out

here.

Erin: I wish thispicture was clearerso you could really

see the towel tiedaround Sean's neckso it could be hissuperhero cape.

Sean: Yeah, but inorder to look moreauthentic, I tucked

in the knot.

Mom: I laugh at this picture everytime I see it.

Sean: What? Erin you're reading again?Where's Tim? Dad? Oh yeah, Rockford Filesand Star Trek. How many coupons are there

Mom? Alright, I guess I'll just entertainmyself.

Tim: And thus.out of the ashes of disregardand boredomThe Sean has risen!

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33/50

Mom: Seanenjoyed dressing

up.

Tim: This is anawesome picture!Can we use this at

your weddingSean?

Sean: I wouldn'thave it any otherway. Notice my

bat gun. Alsoremember these

doors how when itgot windy leaves

would blow underthem?

Erin: The start of Sean's love of being themost stylish person on a ship.

Sean: Side note - those berries on the bushbehind me cause paralysis.

Dad: I remember that walkway was prettysharp and Mykenna would walk barefoot likeit was nothing. Karen and I would ask, "how

is she doing that?"

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34/50

Sean: Mrs. Nordberg. Perhaps one of my favorite teachers of all time time time.

Sean: 2nd best day at Child's Garden. 1st was whena bird flew by and pooped on the bully's head.

Sean: Glad to see that the pinkshirts weren't just me.

Erin: The difference is that youchose that shirt. Mary Jeane chose

Mickey's.

Tim: "Help me.please"

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35/50

Sean: That karate master neverwore deoderant and I hated

when he'd use me to demo sinceI had to smell his dojo BO.

Sean: Toddhelped me buildthat car. Rear

stabilizers,quadrophonicexhaust, dual

lateralstabilizers,

minimal drag,

graphite-bearing nails? I

deservedpinewood

derby hall offame status.

Sean: TerryPteradactyl, BerthaBrontasaurus, Trinithe Triceratops,Stanley Stegasaurus,

Tom Tyrannasaurus:he is carnivorous. Istill remember thatstupid song.

Sean: Everything

about that outfitscreams Macy's andJC Penney's. Did you

know that theyaccused Mo of

stealing? GrandmaPierce never shopped

there again!

Sean: Ah, there's thehairstyle, thanks Dad. Also

notice the slap bracelet.

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T li Pi


36/50

Tim: I am a cybernetic organism: living tissue over metal endoskeleton.

Four Corners

Disneyland 1987

Traveling Pierces


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Dad: Tim and I rode the train to Winter Park and back. I remember Tim counted the tunnels. Over 20 I think.

Sean: I remember gettingin trouble for throwing that

snowball at Erin. Alsoplenty of stink eye from

Erin.Erin: I'm sure I was

partially blind for days dueto that ice ball!

Tim: But Erin's othersenses were enhanced

during that part of her life,

allowing her telepathicability to really take off.

Gl d S i


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Tim: I had many good memories in Glenwood. Especially DQ after the pool and wiffle ball games.

Tim: The best and worst part of this day washaving the hot dog for lunch. The grilled hot dog

tasted the best after a morning of swimming.Having to wait 30 minutes after we ate to go

swimming again.cmon man.

Tim: Wiffle-gate

Erin: "Erin ALWAYShits it down the thirdbase line! How could

he not get it?!"

Glenwood Springs

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39/50

Tim: Grandma was all abouttaking trips. Now that I think

back about it, sharing memorieswith people that she loved wasvery important to her. I loved

that quality about her and I lovethat about Mom too.

Grand Canyon1987

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T e most won er u time o t e year


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Sean: I will forever have my best Christmas memories at that house.

T e most won er u time o t e year...

Tim: The many faces of ErinErin: Ha! I wondered when this

started. All I know is there aren'ttoo many good or serious picturesof me from this point on to about

10th grade. Sean looks like hewants to get away from it all.

Tim: All of the kids look anxiousfor some reason.

Erin: What you don't see isGrandpa Moriarity offcamera

holding up a half-full glass asking,"Who didn't finish their milk?"

Erin: I loved Grandma Moriarity's stockings!They always had the weirdest things.

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Tim: I think of many good times looking at these pictures38


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Erin: I loved the Breckenridge condo! So many fun memories up there.

Sean: Is this where Uncle Pat was too fat to fit through that crawl spacealong the trail?

Erin: Yep, same trip! And where you and Mickey almost gave Lorraine aheart attack by pushing each other around near the edge of a cliff. Then

you got mad because, "you weren't that close and she shouldn't have toldon you."

Tim: And don't even get me started about what Kathleen said to Meghanabout Mary Jean's cooking.

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Memories continued


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Memories continued

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Sean: What was weird is that's how close we were and everything Not posed Just a shot of life exactly how it was


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Sean: What was weird is that s how close we were and everything. Not posed. Just a shot of life exactly how it was.Tim: This was at Grandpa's house on a Friday night. I got up on Thursday morning at 1am to go to work and got offof work

at 11 am. Picked up Ed a few hours later along with some Chinese food and we drove to Colorado. We got tired in Santa Feand napped for about 45 min in the truck, then downed some 5hr Energy and continued on. Got into Denver about 11am

Friday and got to see the family . Stayed busy til about 8pm, took this picture, and I was ready for bed. But Ed, Mick and Seantwisted my arm to go see the new Star Trek movie at 9pm that night. So of course we all went. I wouldn't trade any of those

memories for an ounce of sleep.

e Fami y


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Tim: Erin, is that a mullett?

Erin: No, this is thebeginning of the really longera of me not knowing howto do my hair. You shouldknow, it looks like you're

going through it too. My

hair is just pulled back andthe bangs are horrid; Iremember thinking that Icould have the same bangsas my friends with straighthair. Turns out you can'treally do it with curly hair.

Sean: I recognize Dad's

hairstyle from the mirror inelementary school. His earsaren't red though.

e Fami y

and the beat goes on.42


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Dear Mom and Dad,

We children learned agreat deal from you and wewant to acknowledge the loveand hard work you put intoparenting us three bozos.

Were still learning lessonsas we go along, but one of thebiggest lessons weve learned todate is that growing up isharder than we realized aschildren.

We are reminded of howmuch we appreciate both of

you through the triumphs as

well as the challenges in life.Hopefully this book

reminds you that you guys didpretty good as a mommy and adaddy. You have three children

who love you and learned a lotof good things from you.

Thank you.from all of us!

Tim, Erin and Sean


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Brad and Karen

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