Oh Trek, a painting is a wonderful idea!

My mother grew up in "upscale" places and thinks where my dad is from is a dive. I think it might be a dive but still...it's HIS dive. There are paintings in the house where my mom went to boarding school and where she went to college but there is nothing for my father. Part of me thinks it would be wonderful to allow him a contribution to the decor

Re the phone book, is a good idea but I don't even know if they had a phone. I know they didn't have hot water and this was in the 40's/early 50's.

Another idea I have is to go to a restaurant that was open back when my dad was around. There has to be at least one. I could steal a menu or at the very least buy a shirt.

I am really enjoying reading everyone's plans and memories. I am lucky because when my father got sick and the prognosis was bad, he ended up getting better. It was a lesson for all of us and I am so happy that it enabled us to not end up with regrets. I still don't go down to see them as much as I should though...have GOT to work on that.