Report on Great Uncle Frank

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
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Got a call from Brother Fred who says Dad is doing just fine.

When Dad was dismissed from hospital he was under strict orders to REST -- do nothing -- sleep, eat, watch TV. And, under no circumstances was he to exert any upper body effort. That said....

First day home Sister Gerry dropped by and found Dad mopping the kitchen floor. Second day home Dad decided he would clean the gutters on the house. Neighbor came over and told him to stop. He wouldn't. Neighbor threatened to call Sisters Gerry and Frances. Frances is oldest and can raise hell about as well as anybody I know. Dad finally gave up on the project not wanting to incur the wrath of the girls.

When Fred and I arrived for our visit Dad was outside picking up the AM paper, cigarette in hand. Later he got nervous because he had only one pack of cigarettes in the house -- and no driving for two weeks (Sisters wisely took the car keys!). So, I went out and bought him a carton and will send 2 or 3 cartons for Father's Day.

I think Great Uncle Frank is going to be hard to kill.

When I had to leave I almost broke down but managed to keep it together until Fred and I got on the road. Dad can't stand to see me cry. And, I promised myself I would get back to visit Dad at least 3 times a year until one of us left our bodies. Dads and Moms are hard to come by.
 
Good to hear Dad is doing well. Yes, they are hard to come by, trying at times, but treasure them while you can.

Now, if Mom would just get off my a$$ about my smoking, life would be alot easier. :(
She's 86, I'm 66, she is afraid I will go before she does.....
 
Funny how they get so valuable to you when you realize they won't be around forever.

Next on the agenda is to start keeping in touch with brothers and sisters, aunts ande uncles.
 
I hope I'm that tough at his age, or yours, UB, when/if I get there. Ain't gonna start smoking, though.
 
Looks like our prayers were answered!! It's awesome to see some of these guys keep on. I think my Grandma made to 108 because she didn't listen when they told her to sit down either:D
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
I went out and bought him a carton and will send 2 or 3 cartons for Father's Day.
I think Great Uncle Frank is going to be hard to kill.
Click to expand...
If the cigarettes don't work, send him a gift certificate for a month's supply of McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers with Bacon.

That should get him.
 
Bill, your dad sounds like quite a man. My own dad is no longer around.

He died in 1997. Strange as it may seemed, about a year after he passed away, I had a dream about him coming back to see me.

I remember distinctly asking him: "Aren't you over the "other side" now? To ask this kind of question in a dream is odd but that was exactly what I had said.

I recall his reply: "Don't worry about me, I am all right," and he smiled. With that, I woke up the next morning with an uncommon peace of mind.
 
I've always wondered why they can't be clearer.

Last dream like that I had, an old friend came to see me. I'd missed his death and funeral because we'd had a falling out. No one's fault, exactly... Anyway, he shows up, I give him a hug and notice he doesn't reek of smokes. He doesn't say anything, but shuffles some papers in his hand, looking them over. They're my meager manuscripts...where's the rest? He seems to say. Time to get on with it.

.. ......
The Junk Man in Havre gave me a ten speed bike. Like most of the things he gives, it turned out to need work. I spent about a day on it, and managed to rebend the frame and fix the rear derailer. This whetted my appetite for bike riding. I used to ride all the time. Rode for 4 years once without driving a car. ( It was illegal for me to drive a car) Anyway, another friend wants to go on a Mt bike ride so I go along with my old Mt bike. I had a blast. I remembered what the best of munk was.

A couple days later the Junk Man died. I never got a chance to tease him about that ten speed, but at least my Wife and kids I spent some time with he and his Missus right before he left.

He was there and now he's gone. I want to buy a great Mt bike. As I have no money, I am selling some semi auto rifles I've been keeping for civil unrest and to give to my sons later.

I got my oldest son a great 7 speed alloy bike early for his birthday. Way more money than any kid in my family ever got. There aren't many kids his own age here in the Sticks, so we might as well take advantage of what we do have- wilderness.

I don't have time to wait for the Revolution. There are still lots of firearms to give each boy when they get older. But we need to ride together right now.

Anyone want to buy an 'end of the world' firearm give me an email. Better price for all HI forumites.

Bill, I don't think my Old Man likes it much if I cry around him, either.

munk
 
Thanks for sharing that Uncle Bill---I need to spend some time with my dad, and thanks for reminding me of that while there's time.
 
Oddly enough, about 3 months after my Dad passed on I was driving around the Nevada side of Tahoe and felt his presence. It was as if both of us wished there had been time to tell each other so much more.
 
It is nice to hear that your dad is doing so good. The idea of seeing him more often is a good idea. If I hadn't been in the Corps I would have tried to see my grandfather and grandmother more often than I did.

Hind sight isn't worth much but, maybe if I had taken my thirty days a year in two or three pieces things would have been better.

It is good that he is doing a few things. I think if I sat down and did nothing it would be all over pretty soon.

Munk: It is a good thing to spend as much time with your children as you can too. It seems like our young ones didn't stay around home very long. :) :D
 
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