The Perfect
Father's Day Gift

Dateline: 8 June 2014




I was walking into a Home Depot store yesterday and saw a sign that said…

Father's Day is June 15. Think tools.

…so I did what the sign said and I thought of one of the handiest tools I own, which happened to be right in my hand. It was a Whizbang NOTES pocket notebook with a list of things I wanted to get in the store. 

And then I thought to myself that I should tell all of my blog readers…

Father's Day is June 15.
Think Whizbang Pocket Notebooks.

And then I started to think about well-known father role models and I thought about John Walton of The Walton's television series which ran from 1972 to 1981. That was back when I still watched television, and I loved the program.

Oh sure, John Walton was a fictional character, but as a teenager and a young man, I identified with him. He was a down-to-earth, hard-working family man. The Waltons were a  multi-generational family, with Grandpa and Grandma living in the same home with John and Olivia and their seven children. Their home and the land they lived on (Walton Mountain) was land that Waltons had lived on for generations. The land was important to them. The rural life they lived was full and rich and they had something that is largely gone in modern America…. rural community.

There were aspects of The Waltons that irked me but, overall, the show had so many redeeming qualities. 

And then, of course, with fathers and rural families and television programs in mind, there was also Little House on the Prairie, which ran from 1974 to 1984. Michael Landon's character as Pa Ingalls was powerfully endearing, as was the entire program.




It's interesting to note that, back in the 1970s I liked The Waltons somewhat better than I did Little House on the Prairie. But as an adult, I like Little House on the Prairie much better than The Waltons.

In any event, I'm pretty certain that Grandpa Walton ("Zeb"), John Walton ("Daddy"), and Charles Ingalls ("Pa") used pocket notebooks (all those old timers did). So they would have been very pleased to get a package of Whizbang Notes Pocket Notebooks for father's day. And I'm sure that your grandpa or daddy would be equally pleased.

Orders are shipped promptly and will get to most US locations within three days. Don't tarry….







10 comments:

Herrick Kimball said...

As a follow-up to this post, I'd like to share the following comment that an unknown person left at the Whizbang Notes web site…

"Re these notebooks: my poet, lawyer, treefarmer husband kept a notebook in his left shirt pocket for 40 years plus and he was the most original and productive man I ever met. From poem to grocery list to legal strategy to random attractions, it was all there. A multi tasker's prayer to each day."

Anonymous said...

I like how you wove the TV show discussion into having a pocket notebook.
I enjoyed the Walton's and Little house back in the day. One of the things I remember about the Walton's was when there was a fire and brimstone guest minister at their church and he was on a roll looking right at John Walton and John got up and walked out on him.
For Little House, I remember Charles walking out into the wheat fieled giving thanks to God for what looked like would be a surplus crop that year and then the hail came and destroyed it.
Not sure why I remember those particular events the most. Those left an impression in my mind that stays.
Mick

Anonymous said...

I have always thought that an enterprising educator could take either the Waltons or Little House and make a "Whizzbang" (sorry Mr Kimball) class for youngsters on moral/life lessons. I don't know if they would have enough violence/cussing for today's generation, but it might be spot on for homeschooled kids who have a start on a moral compass. Great blog, keep up the good work.

Scott M Terry said...

I love my Whizbang Note pads!

Gail said...

Both are wonderful shows with more than one father figure.

Herrick Kimball said...

Mick—
I recall that John Walton was not much of a church goer. I don't recall the Little House episode. Our family has all the programs from both shows on dvd. My kids grew up watching them.

Anonymous—
Wow. You have brought up a remarkably good idea. I've been thinking about it all day.

Scott—
I'm glad to know you're putting those pocket notebooks to good use. Thanks for the positive feedback.

Gail—
Good point. There certainly were other excellent father figures on both shows.

Unknown said...

I love my Wizzbang Note Pads too, and it's so great to get back to writing things down again. I also got a new holder for them, that has a pen that is connected to it. Talk about convenience!

There is just something about crossing off each thing as I do it, and crossing off things that I needed to purchase too. I don't forget what I need now, and also go right to it so that I won't forget all the great ideas that pop into my head.

Who would have ever thought a simple note pad could do so much for us. Or, at least for me.
I love them.

Herrick Kimball said...

Sheila—

That's a great product testimonial. Thank you.

It's important that we write down the great ideas right away. After around thirty seconds, we often forget what the great idea was.

Anonymous said...

Will Geer - Zeb - in real life was no one to emulate.

Lisa said...

I was never much of a Waltons viewer but loved the Little House show and books. In fact, I've been reading the entire series and am currently finishing up with Farmer Boy. So many wonderful lessons to be had by reading of the trials and perseverance of the Ingalls and Wilders! Herrick, I don't have a Whizbang notebook, but I am a list maker and have got the husband into the habit as well. :)