Survive the moment.

Great story and very well told! You've got a real flair for story telling. You should write more!

Your father's philosophy of life shows a real depth of feeling.
 
Thank you all for the kind words.

It used to be in many places, when a man had a problem, he would consult the village elders. The old ones had between them a century or more of experience of life. Lots of experiences to draw on. This was done in old China, American Indian villages, European family or village units, and gypsy camps. Until very recent times, we would rely on the many years of gathered wisdom of our elders. After all, they had spent many more years on this earth than we, and they had survived, so they must have been smarter than those who didn't make it.

Now the younger generation seem to rely on computers and Y tube video's for guidance. They've lost touch with the elders.

I'm afraid of the future.
 
JK,
My thanks! Whatever happened to your Dad's gun?? IF...you still have it(prob.wrapped in an oily rag)you ever take it out & shoot it??
Jim
 
It is kept in a case with a silicone wipe down now and then. Once in a very very great while I used to take it out shooting, but not now. It's become part of the family's artifacts that if I broke a firing pin or extractor or something, it may be difficult to find a competent gunsmith to repair it without botching it. The Colt and the peanut both, are in a glass front display case with some photo's of dad and a letter telling about him. My teenage grandson, Ryan, and granddaughter Christy, are becoming the family historians to the point of putting together a family tree going all the way back to Ireland. They got the interest from my daughter Jess, who keeps a detail family history for her grandchildren to be.

They also have been collecting my old stuff, and Karen's fathers stuff, including his day's with the Black Cat's in WW2. I admit in one way it makes me feel good that dad and his generation is not going be forgotten, but it makes me feel a little weird to see a display case from the Michael's crafts store with my stuff in it and photo's of me. I feel like saying "Hey, I'm still here, don't go putting the cart before the horse!"

On the other hand, I feel glad that the kids and grandkids have a sense of family history.
 
I don't know how old you are, my friend, but you've just made this old man cry and miss his own father all over again. Mine was much like yours, full of the wisdoms that come with having lived, and not only lived, but learned. I wish i had those days back, especially now that i've learned better to listen. It is a crying shame these days, in how that even life...the most precious gift we have, is made disposable and unwanted people and animals are cast off like so much garbage.

My father had a colt woodsman and loved his case pocketknives too. The woodsman was stolen from me in a burglary along with most of his other guns. It was recovered and destroyed by the Lebanon PA P.D. before i could get thru the red tape and get there to retrieve it. The rest of his guns are still missing. I still have his navy issue knife and his cases. They will be passed on to my children when my time comes, along with as much of his wisdom that i can.

I fear the future also.

Thank You.
 
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Dignity and wisdom, many thanks to you and homage to the memory of your dad.I wish mine were still here.
 
Great story Jackknife, thank you very much.
Our bitch is lying by my feet right now, hopefully with her first litter on the way. Just gave her a pat to let her know she's loved. Like your dad, I'd sooner shoot whoever dumped the dog.
 
Karda said:
I don't know how old you are, my friend, but you've just made this old man cry and miss his own father all over again.
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Same here.

I feel very honored to have been allowed to read this story.

Thank you.
 
Great wisdom in that story.
I also got to learn from early childhood to take care of my animals, from beginning to end.
This has for instance included two huntingdogs that I loved much and had for their whole lifes. When they got so old they suffered they went for the last woodswalk together with me. This is not a pleasant walk for the human packleader but it makes a honorable ending on a relationship, and its done out of love and respect and not because of the lack of it.
Leaving a dog on its own is lucky enough very rare in Sweden. Makes me very sad to hear this happpens.

Bosse
 
A brilliant tale, as usual. Your father was a great man, thank you for sharing your experiences with him.
 
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