Father's Day, now and then..
Jun 16th, 2006, 08:15 AM
#22
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What a wonderful idea for a thread! And thanks to all who are sharing such great memories and stories - they are all great!
My own father passed away in 1991, and I will always miss him. He was my biggest supporter.
My dad really loved the road trip, and I'm so happy that he instilled that love in me. And, yes, he was also one of those dads that had to leave at 4AM! What was it about that generation!! He grew up in the mid-West (specifically Wisconsin), and had a specially love for Western movies as a boy, so when he moved to California as an adult he couldn't get enough of the "Great West." All of our vacations were west of the Mississippi. Anything do with the west, cowboys, Native American heritage - my dad was there. He taught me an appreciation for the West United States, and he even showed me how the desert had its own natural beauty. My father was not a "city guy," but his idea of "roughing it" meant motel had 1 star instead of 3! He did like to be comfy.
I hope others keep sharing. I love reading how other's fathers have helped to shape their lives!
My own father passed away in 1991, and I will always miss him. He was my biggest supporter.
My dad really loved the road trip, and I'm so happy that he instilled that love in me. And, yes, he was also one of those dads that had to leave at 4AM! What was it about that generation!! He grew up in the mid-West (specifically Wisconsin), and had a specially love for Western movies as a boy, so when he moved to California as an adult he couldn't get enough of the "Great West." All of our vacations were west of the Mississippi. Anything do with the west, cowboys, Native American heritage - my dad was there. He taught me an appreciation for the West United States, and he even showed me how the desert had its own natural beauty. My father was not a "city guy," but his idea of "roughing it" meant motel had 1 star instead of 3! He did like to be comfy.
I hope others keep sharing. I love reading how other's fathers have helped to shape their lives!
Jun 16th, 2006, 08:21 AM
#23
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My real father also passed away when I was young and my stepfather is my 'real' dad.
My best memories of my dad would be him taking me out of high school to play hookey by going skiing with him and his ski club on day trips.
I would go back to school the next day, my mother had no idea, all wind burnt and sun burnt looking like the picture of health with notes from my dad explaining that I was out sick.
My best memories of my dad would be him taking me out of high school to play hookey by going skiing with him and his ski club on day trips.
I would go back to school the next day, my mother had no idea, all wind burnt and sun burnt looking like the picture of health with notes from my dad explaining that I was out sick.
Jun 16th, 2006, 10:23 AM
#24
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When we were kids, we usually made Dad breakfast in bed (with Mom's help), and then did our usual stuff - played tennis or ping pong, watched golf etc. Pretty low key.
Now, my parents are about 10 hours away, so he'll get a phone call.
In May, my family gets together at my aunt's house to celebrate a bunch of things - Mother's Day, Father's Day, and my mom's, aunt's, and brother-in-law's birthdays. So I guess that is our new family tradition.
Happy Father's Day, Dad! Love you!
Now, my parents are about 10 hours away, so he'll get a phone call.
In May, my family gets together at my aunt's house to celebrate a bunch of things - Mother's Day, Father's Day, and my mom's, aunt's, and brother-in-law's birthdays. So I guess that is our new family tradition.
Happy Father's Day, Dad! Love you!
Jun 16th, 2006, 10:53 AM
#25
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My dad is the one who got me hooked on traveling! (And even more so, hooked on budget traveling!) To this day, he alerts me whenever there's a good package deal in the newspaper.
I
my Padre every day of the year, so fathers' day traditions are pretty low-key...probably a game of Trivial Pursuit and some chips 'n' dip!
I
my Padre every day of the year, so fathers' day traditions are pretty low-key...probably a game of Trivial Pursuit and some chips 'n' dip!
Jun 16th, 2006, 11:09 AM
#26
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Chele60~ your dad sounds like my late father-in-law.
While my dad had been from a small Idaho town and come to Aalska for a fresh start after the service, my fil was a city boy, hardly out of those Wingtips in all the years I knew him.(He passed in 2001, like my dad, after a valiant battle with lung cancer).
Anyway, my fil was an opinionated Irishman, a cop for thirty years, and I was the only one in a huge extended clan to ever disagree with him..(you'd have to know my late mom to appreciate that,lol).
To visit with my fil, you'd sit at the kitchen table for eons~ I swear, I could see my fingernails growing! He was afraid of lightening, and always dug out 12,000 AAA maps if my dh and I decided to take a road trip.
One time when we all traveled to Calif., I can remember my fil with cigarette in hand, walking his dunlop belly over to the hot tub, commenting to us about some broad with a "good pod" somewhere by the pool. No one was a stranger to him, for better or worse!
My dad was a quiet intellectual type. He taught school for many years, had more of a liberal outlook on life and raised my sister and I without regard to gender. We were always active outdoors, hunting, fishing, whatever.
He was a little hypercritical at times, but one of the few movies he enjoyed with me was Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Steve Martin was perfect in that role, and every once in a while, I did out the tape and play it, remembering my dad
While my dad had been from a small Idaho town and come to Aalska for a fresh start after the service, my fil was a city boy, hardly out of those Wingtips in all the years I knew him.(He passed in 2001, like my dad, after a valiant battle with lung cancer).
Anyway, my fil was an opinionated Irishman, a cop for thirty years, and I was the only one in a huge extended clan to ever disagree with him..(you'd have to know my late mom to appreciate that,lol).
To visit with my fil, you'd sit at the kitchen table for eons~ I swear, I could see my fingernails growing! He was afraid of lightening, and always dug out 12,000 AAA maps if my dh and I decided to take a road trip.
One time when we all traveled to Calif., I can remember my fil with cigarette in hand, walking his dunlop belly over to the hot tub, commenting to us about some broad with a "good pod" somewhere by the pool. No one was a stranger to him, for better or worse!
My dad was a quiet intellectual type. He taught school for many years, had more of a liberal outlook on life and raised my sister and I without regard to gender. We were always active outdoors, hunting, fishing, whatever.
He was a little hypercritical at times, but one of the few movies he enjoyed with me was Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Steve Martin was perfect in that role, and every once in a while, I did out the tape and play it, remembering my dad
Jun 16th, 2006, 11:25 AM
#27
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Both my father and father in law have passed on and they are both missed tremendously. Though they came from different ethnic groups (Irish and Italian) they had so much in common. Hardworking, family first, always seemed to know the right thing to do, veterns, good with their hands, loved good stories and good friends, loved their kids and their wives, smart about money. Loved to travel though they didn't do it often enough. Lucky me I found a guy just like them.
Jun 16th, 2006, 11:42 AM
#28
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This is so sweet:
First Fathers Day without my Dad. He was an educator, the kind we all wish for our children. He loved kids, loved teachers, loved parents, and worked all his life to make the best educational experience possible. He tought me and my brother what a Dad should be like.
CMCFONG: salute to your Dad!
First Fathers Day without my Dad. He was an educator, the kind we all wish for our children. He loved kids, loved teachers, loved parents, and worked all his life to make the best educational experience possible. He tought me and my brother what a Dad should be like.
CMCFONG: salute to your Dad!
Jun 16th, 2006, 12:36 PM
#30
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My father was also an Air Force guy who loved to travel. He spent many years in the far east and I think he eventually identified with Asian culture more than his own (Irish). In 1961, when I was 6, he bought a VW van, an uncommon vehicle back then. He replaced the back seats with a wooden platform. Our luggage went under the platform and our sleeping bags on top. There were 7 of us children then, including my brother who was 8 months old. We traveled in that WV bus from Mississippi to Boston and Montreal, and then across the country to California. It was quite an adventure (one my mother never appreciated).
Just before he died, my father said he was sorry he never took me on the swan boat ride he promised me in Boston when I was 5 years old. I had completely forgotton about it, but he never did. He was a visionary, a tough guy, a genius (imo), and cute as the dickens. I miss him terribly.
Just before he died, my father said he was sorry he never took me on the swan boat ride he promised me in Boston when I was 5 years old. I had completely forgotton about it, but he never did. He was a visionary, a tough guy, a genius (imo), and cute as the dickens. I miss him terribly.
Jun 16th, 2006, 01:29 PM
#31
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Do any of these expressions ring any bells?
*Well, I'll be go to he**!
*That oughta rattle their chain.
*How are you? How do you know?
*You wouldn't be trying to whifflepoof me, would you?
and my dad's favorite..(no matter what the situation)..
**That should build some character.**
*Well, I'll be go to he**!
*That oughta rattle their chain.
*How are you? How do you know?
*You wouldn't be trying to whifflepoof me, would you?
and my dad's favorite..(no matter what the situation)..
**That should build some character.**
Jun 16th, 2006, 06:53 PM
#32
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>>>>>>dsm22 - I too have portaged canoes with my dad when I was a teenager, following him into no man's land. Good memories, but at the time all I wanted to do was be someplace with plumbing and electricity so I could take a hot shower, shave my legs, and curl my hair - so I could then go pick up boys - LOL.<<<<<<
Why couldn't they make a place way back then in the 70's and 80's, in the middle of the woods, where you could fly fish AND get a full day spa treatment.
There is money to be made there.
J Correa, I remember once we went camping with my older, more wordly cousins. We went to The Beaverkill it was in NY, I think. A bunch of boys saw my cousin's name on the back of her shirt. (Does anyone remember those shirts where you would get an iron on in on the front, and your name in the back of your shirt? I feel old.) Anyway, my ditzy cousin was listening to these boys because they called her by name, they were telling her that they knew her, meanwhile, the dorky geek that I am, knew immediately it was because of her shirt. I let her flounder around and flirt awhile, then I finally told her how they knew.
These boys wanted to meet us later. So we did. I have no clue how we did not get killed or something. But we did sneek out. It was such a stupid thing to do, looking back. They were drinking beer. I am telling you, if I had a kid, and she did this I would kill her.
I finally came to my senses and got us out of there and back to the camp ground. Walking back over the covered bridge though we met a skunk. Thank goodness we did not get sprayed.
I carried that secret around for over 20 years, that we crept away from camp. Turns out that my dad knew, he followed us and spied on us the whole time. I did not even know. He never said a word. So moms aren't the only ones that have eyeballs in the backs of their heads.
Why couldn't they make a place way back then in the 70's and 80's, in the middle of the woods, where you could fly fish AND get a full day spa treatment.
There is money to be made there.J Correa, I remember once we went camping with my older, more wordly cousins. We went to The Beaverkill it was in NY, I think. A bunch of boys saw my cousin's name on the back of her shirt. (Does anyone remember those shirts where you would get an iron on in on the front, and your name in the back of your shirt? I feel old.) Anyway, my ditzy cousin was listening to these boys because they called her by name, they were telling her that they knew her, meanwhile, the dorky geek that I am, knew immediately it was because of her shirt. I let her flounder around and flirt awhile, then I finally told her how they knew.
These boys wanted to meet us later. So we did. I have no clue how we did not get killed or something. But we did sneek out. It was such a stupid thing to do, looking back. They were drinking beer. I am telling you, if I had a kid, and she did this I would kill her.
I finally came to my senses and got us out of there and back to the camp ground. Walking back over the covered bridge though we met a skunk. Thank goodness we did not get sprayed.
I carried that secret around for over 20 years, that we crept away from camp. Turns out that my dad knew, he followed us and spied on us the whole time. I did not even know. He never said a word. So moms aren't the only ones that have eyeballs in the backs of their heads.
Jun 17th, 2006, 10:18 PM
#34
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All of you reading this thread may also want to check out the thread "Are you or are you not a beach person?" I shared a story about my dad "visiting" my sister in a dream after his death. Several people have now posted similar stories you might enjoy. Happy Fathers Day!
Jun 17th, 2006, 11:35 PM
#36
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Thought this post is appropiate to respond to - as I'm up in the middle of the night due to nicotine withdrawl. My father quit smoking many times, but always went back. I've just gone cold turkey - and am completely crazed but hope to do this for both of us (dad meant to, but the reaper caught up first). My father tought me to be a traveller, not a tourist - we've been living his philiosophy for years!
Jun 17th, 2006, 11:49 PM
#37
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When I quit smoking the thing that got me through the rough spots was having heard that it was much harder to quit the second time. I knew how hard that first time was and didn't ever want to have to go through that again! That was 26 years ago this past April!
Good luck to you. I know it's hard. But it's so worth it! Aside from all the physical benefits, the sense of accomplishment will make you feel good for years to come!
Good luck to you. I know it's hard. But it's so worth it! Aside from all the physical benefits, the sense of accomplishment will make you feel good for years to come!
Jun 18th, 2006, 08:23 AM
#39
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ElleD9~ After my dad had been gone for awhile, followed by my fil five months later,(both had lung surgery related to smoking), I made a photo tribute to them on one side of my refrigerator.
My dad was a fit man, boasting he had only gained five pounds since high school. Whenever I was bored, or weak, I'd have a little more self control with dad's eyes on me!
I have one picture of him as a young man in the forties, on the side of Mt. McKinley, as we called it then. That speaks volumes as to how he lived his life and has always inspired me.
Take care and good luck, J.
My dad was a fit man, boasting he had only gained five pounds since high school. Whenever I was bored, or weak, I'd have a little more self control with dad's eyes on me!
I have one picture of him as a young man in the forties, on the side of Mt. McKinley, as we called it then. That speaks volumes as to how he lived his life and has always inspired me.
Take care and good luck, J.
