Honoring my Mom and Dad

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
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A little over four years ago I lost my dad and little over two years ago I lost my mom.

When I was growing up my dad was usually working and I can remember several Christmases or Thanksgiving that he had to work late so someone could get their medicine. (He was a pharmacist) When there was a tornado in little town in 1974 he went out to give tetanus shots. He built of 50 years of relationships with the people in town.

He took me to Wrigley field to see the cubs, and another trip to Chicago to visit a science surplus place. We went a couple of times to Dearborn MI to see the Ford museum. He came to Dayton OH once and we went through the Packard museum. We never made it to the chord auto museum. We tried to make fireworks (failed). We went trap shooting, and I think I startled him that I was pretty good.

When he retired and moved to the country he stared making Maple syrup. That was a fun time, out in Feb and March collecting sap and staying up all hours to man the fire.

My mom, I can't believe how much she took care of us, and never complained (ok usually didn't) complain when we broke stuff or blew something up. She let us free do do our own thing in the summer, out all day was ok. "Borrowing" my dad's 30-06 to shoot blanks was OK too.

My mom grew up in Kentucky and still had a bit of a kentucky accent even at 75 years old. I used to hate it when growing up thinking it was podunk and unsophisticated. But I eventually realized it was a proud part of her heritage and of mine.

The last couple years she spent so much of her time supporting him after a stroke. In the end her greatest love was a cat she adopted when she moved to the country.

Boggles me a little bit how well they did for us and what an integral part of the community they had become. I'm not sure I can live up to their heritage, but I'm trying.

We established a community scholorship fund for the town they lived in. Two scholoships have been awarded so far, though the fund is kinda hosed now because of the market.

Anyway, feels kinds odd that tonight I'm missing them terribly, seemed time to say this.
 
I hear ya. My Dad died a year ago. Its there every day. Dig deep brother.
 
thanks for sharing that, Dave.

Trying to be the best person you can be every day, and succeeding is how you honor your parents.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I know how you feel Dave, I get melancholy sometimes when I think back on all the family and friends I've lost, I feel sad and ever since my wife talked me into letting my emotions come to the surface years ago, now I get teary eyed when Bambi's mom gets shot :o .
 
Thanks for sharing Dave. I've still got my parents, but my wife's folks aren't doing too well; I'm pretty close to both of them. Not looking forward to the "leaving time", as we'd say growing up.

thx - cpr
 
'89 I lost my Dad. I had a close bond. He used to take me to site works from when I was 4 years old. One really fond memory was when mum was ill and he was to take me and a friend to school and then drive to Sinoia (now Chinoyi) for a project. He took us with him and we spent the rest of the day exploring caves.

The huge bun fight that erupted at the school on careers day, I had badly flunked my mock "O"levels (I pasted the real ones quiet well) and parents were doing the cocktails and career path discussions. The careers master said that I could never do Architecture, but Quantity Surveying was better for slow people (still doing degrees). My old man was a RICS QS and things went down hill from there. For some reason my folks never brought up my results that term.

My folks had only one serious fight when my Dad used to use the home projector in his office on a Friday afternoon for his Police (reserve) colleagues to review confiscated films (aka student lectures). A broken piece of film was left in the machine for my mum to find at the repair shop. My mom still laughs at that today.

Long time, pain is still there. My mom is still in Zimbabwe and everyday is a stress.
 
Well done, Dave.

I don't think a lot of people really appreciate what our parents did for us while we grew up.
 
Thanks for sharing. :)
I lost my dad when I was 8. Didnt know him very well because most of the time he slept, because of alzheimers. He didnt die from any disease but He and my mom were four blocks away when they got hit by a semi-truck. My mom lived but he passed on.
 
Thank-You Dave. It is obvious you really care about you Mom and Dad You have the precious memories. That is a blessing!
 
Thanks for sharing Dave. I hear ya and you are not alone feeling this way.

I find Holidays the Hardest.
By the time I was 50, in 14 short years most of my family I had was gone.
 
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