Memories of Your Father

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
Location
USA
With Father's Day right around the corner, I thought we could tell if there are any special memories of our fathers, or particular things that they used to say. I had good times in the country with my father in the summertime. He really wasn't a cigar smoker, but when the gnats/mosquitoes were bad on a still evening, he would light up a White Owl cigar, and I'd sit on his lap to keep the bugs away. I loved the smell of those cigars, and I was just a little one. I was a picky eater, and he'd catch fish and my mother would prepare it for us all. My dad would always say, 'eat your fish, it's brain food'. :love_heart:
 

I never met any man that impressed me more than my father. He was gentle and kind, and when he would laugh or get really tickled at something...he would SO thoroughly enjoy it so much he would make ME laugh. He was so kind to people, and taught me lessons that benefitted me my whole life. He was equally comfortable with the 'rich and famous' that he had met to the hobo's that came to the door for a sandwich... treated everyone with respect.
I remember him saying that his idea of an 'ideal church setting' would be him in his overalls standing in the middle of the woods with the sun shining through the leaves.
 
My father played guitar & harmonica. He loved entertaining anyone who'd listen. He often joined me & all my friends outside to play, where he'd invent games. For us kids, his game of follow the arrow was our favorite. We'd give him a 5 minute head start. It would be evening so each kid had a flashlight. We'd search the ground for arrows he drew with chalk (indicating what direction he went). Sometimes there would be 2 arrows pointing in different directions. We'd have to split up. The group that found more arrows would holler & the other group would rush to join us. These arrows took us on a long winding journey through our neighborhood. When we'd come upon a cross with 4 arrows, one pointing in each direction we knew he was hiding nearby watching us. By this time we were pumped. We'd scream, and dad would come out like a (silly) monster. We'd scream some more. I have childhood friends I keep in contact with. Take one guess what they like to reminisce about.
Here's a photo of me with my Dad's guitar.
View attachment 7684


Dad also liked to get dressed up as various characters on Halloween and go trick-or-treating with me and my sister. He always brought his guitar along, and would play a song if anyone invited us in their home (many did). Here's a photo taken of us one Halloween when Dad decided to get dressed up as a woman.
View attachment 7685
 

My father was a dull, uninteresting, unambitious character with an acute sense of right and wrong. He was right and we were wrong. I regret not having had a better relationship with my him, but he left me with determination never to be like him. Correction, he was an expert plasterer - I wish I had got him to teach me that skill.
 
Growing up was not always easy as my mother had to perform two roles in our family.

My father was in the military and was often absent for long periods.

I remember how strict he looked with his mustache but with me he was a real softie.

I have only fond memories of him.
 
My Dad had rheumatoid arthritis through out most of his adult life. Stayed active though. And I guess that's the thing I remember most about him, he wouldn't let his bad days get him down.

He introduced me to the game of golf and I am most grateful for that. A game I have enjoyed playing over the years. The one day I remember most is a day we played golf together. The only day we played together as he simply couldn't play because of his arthritis. But that day he felt pretty good and wanted to play. He couldn't play that well, but he really enjoyed the day although he was hurting bad at the end of the round. Too bad we didn't get to do it again. His favorite hobby was flying. That is something he could do regularly and I went up with him many times. Those were good days too.
 
My father died in 2005 of prostate cancer, he was 83. He worked hard building up his very successful horticultural business in our island home, starting it from scratch after WW2. The Germans had left our property in a terrible mess!:mad: My father ensured his family were comfortable materially. He enjoyed sport, particularly F1 car racing, cricket and soccer. He loved fast large cars, and taught his four daughters how to drive from the age of twelve. He was quite strict and I had plenty of thrashings throughout my childhood when going where angels feared to tread as I usually did.:rolleyes: Now our mother has gone too; the Will Trust he set in place has finally been wound up, I think he would be very proud of the amount he has left his children, double the amount he had hoped he would leave us.:)
 
I wish I had many memories but sadly I haven't, my dad passed away when I was 10 years old, his illness was kept from us, I used to walk with him everywhere as though I was his nurse, he used to get out of breath easily and it was a long time before I found out he had lung cancer. When he died I wasn't even allowed to go to his funeral even though we'd been so close but back then it wasn't the norm.
 
Capt Lightning said:
My father was a dull, uninteresting, unambitious character with an acute sense of right and wrong. He was right and we were wrong. I regret not having had a better relationship with my him, but he left me with determination never to be like him.
Click to expand...

Absolute same here re Father.
 
3 soldiers boys.jpgThe middle boy is my father with his two brothers, taken in the late 20s. The eldest boy is still alive at 93.
 
Strong hard working man who must have had sad times it was only when he had died I found out I had a sister who died very young then my brother died before he did and I think that was enough for him .Everybody speaks well of him locally now after all thease years and it makes me very proud.
 
I have a fantastic father; and I am SOOO lucky, as he is still alive; hale in mind although his body plays up!
i have sent the required card; as I always do....and will call tomorrow..
 
My father was a SOB. He was a hard worker, very ambitious. He could do just about anything he set his mind to. He even helped my mom learn how to sew from a pattern. He provided well for us and made a good living for us (his 10 children and wife)
But to me, he was a SOB.
 
My dad? Like most little girls probably do, I thought he was the handsomest, smartest, bravest, best dad ever. It seemed to me that he could do anything and make any wish of mine come true. When my parents divorced, it was the end of my little-kid world. Until the day he died, I still thought he was the handsomest, smartest, bravest, best dad ever. He was one of six brothers. They were all handsome and smart and brave, but MY dad was the best of the bunch! If he was still alive, he'd be 98 in September.
 
Mom and Dad separated when I was a little guy so I never new my Dad as a full time person. I use to visit him once in awhile but the visits weren't all that pleasant as my step mom always made me uncomfortable. I had fun going to visit Dad as I took the train from Norwich, NY to Utica, Ny all by myself.

The older I got, the more I realized that Dad was quite a man. After fighting in Iwo Jima and receiving a couple awards for bravery, I began to admire the man himself.

Dad just celebrated his 98 birthday and I was so proud of him as he received more awards from the governor and a flag that flew over the Capital in Washington. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as my half sister rented a hall and there were about 50 relatives there.

Now I can say I love you Dad and very proud of you.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    99.6 KB · Views: 73
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    118 KB · Views: 73
I have to admit I was a Daddy's girl. He was perfect in every way. He gave me confidence and strength it myself. He was kind ,caring,loving and generous to me and everyone else. I came from a family of 3 children and even after we all married my Dad would never buy anything for himself unless he bought it for all of us. If he bought a microwave he bought one for all of us and did the same with almost everything he bought. He didn't want anything unless we all had it. He did the same with our children too. He passed away almost 20yrs ago and I miss him as much today as the first day he was gone. I was truly Blessed to have him as a Dad.
 
Sorry for your loss, Sassy. Your Dad was Very Special indeed, and you were all definitely Blessed by his Love, Caring and Sharing. :love_heart:
 
Sassycakes said:
I have to admit I was a Daddy's girl. He was perfect in every way. He gave me confidence and strength it myself. He was kind ,caring,loving and generous to me and everyone else. I came from a family of 3 children and even after we all married my Dad would never buy anything for himself unless he bought it for all of us. If he bought a microwave he bought one for all of us and did the same with almost everything he bought. He didn't want anything unless we all had it. He did the same with our children too. He passed away almost 20yrs ago and I miss him as much today as the first day he was gone. I was truly Blessed to have him as a Dad.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a lovely man.
 
I was 17 1/2 when my dad died and having three elder brothers I was the apple of his eye:)

One incidence that springs to mind about him...........I was out with a friend one night and we wanted to go for a drink but we were underage and I suggested going to the local pub my dad used and we would get served, we went in and I sidled up to my dad and he asked what I was doing there, I told him I had come to buy him a drink with that he said.............'Oh! I will have a double whisky with you babe'.:oops::D

My dad was my hero.:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pam
Bee said:
I was 17 1/2 when my dad died and having three elder brothers I was the apple of his eye:)
Love it
One incidence that springs to mind about him...........I was out with a friend one night and we wanted to go for a drink but we were underage and I suggested going to the local pub my dad used and we would get served, we went in and I sidled up to my dad and he asked what I was doing there, I told him I had come to buy him a drink with that he said.............'Oh! I will have a double whisky with you babe'.:oops::D

My dad was my hero.:)
Click to expand...
Love it
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pam
I'm resurrecting this thread. My Dad? Yowsa, some day there will be a memorial service with more people than we can fit. He did proud service in WWII. An educator for some forty years, teacher's associations, credit union, a whole bunch of groups that had my parents entertaining every weekend. Later he and my Mom, he and his partner traveled the world. If I went to the right place in Wales and mentioned his name someone would remember.

At 94 he's still here. A bit more fragile and opinionated but yes still alive and well. What did he teach me? "Persistence is a virtue", how to garden, that exercise daily can be fun, how to appreciate classical music. He was wrong about companion animals. Otherwise it could be engraved in stone.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top