James Bradley Bing

This is James Bradley Bing

"Brad"

 

 My birth dad

 

{I have his nose, chin, ears, and sometimes his sass.}

see the resemblance?

 

We travelled a lot when I was a baby...

England, France, and Scotland

 I still have that beanie.

 

I only have pictures with him from when I was very little because he was hit by a drunk driver and died when he was only 24 years old.
I was 3.

 

Tomorrow would have been his 50th Birthday.

I think he would have had a crazy, fun party. Like hanging from chandeliers fun!
I would have baked him 50 cupcakes... maybe I still will :)
 

These are the things I remember about him...

 

He was a lot of FUN!
Everybody loved to be around him and he was the life of the party.

 Obviously he had a great sense of humor,
as he let me go out in public like that!
And now you can see how I earned the nickname "balooga buns!"

1984

 I can only assume that he didn't like to wear shirts very much...
photographic evidence suggests so.
 

He loved me A LOT and affectionately referred to me as Brenda "Balooga Buns"

I still have those beluga buns :)

 I like reading his journal from when he was at sea in 1985.

 So many special messages!
 

He loved to read historical fiction (Louis L'amour books)
and would talk/yell in his sleep "The horses are coming!!!"

I told ya: Life of the party!

He was a Vikings Fan and a Cowboys fan,
but as far as I know, he never went to Minnesota or Texas.
I'll have to ask him about that.

Here he is with his brothers and sisters.
Look at all those beautiful Bings!

He was a quartermaster on a submarine.
 

He travelled a lot in the Navy and brought me back treasures from all over the world.

My favorite was a life size (like 2 feet tall- same height as me!) ceramic piggy bank from Mexico.

I can't find a picture of it, but it was this obnoxious hot pink pig that stood upright with ruby red lipstick and a polka dot dress. Just like any pig on a farm, I guess. I thought it was hilarious!

 

He loved the Rolling Stones.

In fact, in high school he hitch-hiked all the way to LA to see their concert.
I believe the story went something like this:
Brad: "I'm stoked I'm going to see the Stones tonight at the Hollywood Bowl!"
My mom: "That's great, but you don't have a car or tickets to the show. Are you really going to go?"
Brad: "Do bears **** in the woods?!" (This was one of his common responses)
And he did in fact get to the concert and back in one piece.

He flew by the seat of his pants like that.

He loved San Diego as much as I do.
 

Our last great day together was spent at Sea World in San Diego.

 This is my cousin Christina, Brad, and me

Not sure why I'm touching my nose, maybe the sea life was particularly smelly that day.

 

 I remember him pushing me all around the park in a dolphin stroller
and I still have that hat and stuffed Shamoo.

I wish I could remember more.

I know we'll have a lot to talk about when I see him in heaven.
Starting with his moustache! I know it was the 80's and all, but I hope he finally got rid of it!
Just kidding! Happy 50th Birthday!