I owe my keen wit and common sense to my dear ole Dad. Lots of fun growing up under the command of my USMC father, friend and gentle warrior. I would spend most summers at El Toro Marine Air Station hanging around the flight line, gym and horse stables. What a great childhood my Dad provided.
I grew up on a farm with my adopted aunt and uncle and didn’t know my father. We crossed paths later in life, but I didn’t realize he was my father at that time. He was a bit of a jerk. He did eventually tell me who he was and the two of us reconciled with the help of my twin sister.
Father’s day itself does not have much significance to me, as my father did not attach significance to it, but as a father he was the symbol of integrity and honesty for us, he put others first and took responsibility seriously. There was a strength in his character that he probably did not recognise in himself, but which was an encouragement and a confidence booster by example. That is what I would like to remember about him on Father’s day, and writing this has really brought that home.
My father is nice and caring person. He always tries to teach me about work and life.
He is a construction worker and he teaches me about that, an I am teaching him about computers and electronics.
I also made him a flashlight lover and he loves to look when I mod them and encourages me at my hobby.
My father, who passed on three years ago as of tomorrow, taught me that you don’t have to be the smartest, most educated, or richest to be successful. Helping others and loving those around you is all you need.
It’s over 14 years since I held my dad’s hand as he died. I can still picture the whole scene. Very sad, but I hope my kids can be around me when I die because I know that he knew I loved him.
Then repeat with mam, five years later.
Both sadly missed but the memories are just as fond.
On relationships, my father always said that once you meet the right person things would just fall into place without being too difficult, I was dubious until I met my incipient wife, never doubt the wisdom of your dear old dad!
Typical of new migrants back in the 60’s and 70’s when we were young dad was a factory worker at Ford and always had a second job for that extra bit of cash
He was working it pretty hard for us