Thinking about my Dad on Father's Day.

fracmeister

fracmeister

Petroleum Engineer
Joined
May 26, 1999
Messages
1,686
I have an 1895 vintage Colt .45 that belonged to my great grandfather when he was a Texas Sheriff. Dad used to tell great stories about his grandfather. When he was a kid he asked him how he shot the gun, imagining a quckdraw, movie Western style display. The former sheriff showed him a two handed careful slow aim that didn't impress him much.... till he had a chance to shoot the gun.

My Dad was in the Air Force and served in Korea, flying black B26s at night on low level interdiction. After the war he taught E&E at Bragg, Europe and in Libya. He was in Libya when I was born. Six years ago my youngest son interviewed him on video for a school project on his military experience. 15 minutes of video is all we have on tape now as he died in Ireland a month after the interview.

I have a lot of memories though and most of who I am and what I am is due to him. At least the good stuff.

I am a grandfather now. My grandson is 3 months old. My six kids have turned out well and he was always proud of them and he was always proud of me. I miss that guy a lot on Father's Day.

I know that not everyone has a father that was always supportive and who they loved. I am greatful that I had one. If yours is still around, let him know how you feel. If not, try to be as good a parent as you can be.
 
My father left us in 1993 -- after extensive by-pass surgery. He fought through the immediate aftermath, but couldn't quite pull it out. He gave it his best but there was a lot of pain.

He met all my children, his grandchildren. Our youngest, the twins, only vaguely remember my father, because he died when they were only 2 years old. The oldest remember him as a kind and gentle man who loved to fish and hated to travel...:)

My mother and father divorced when I went off to college. Eventually, my dad married a much younger woman. Although I resented this at first, I finally understood how very good she was for him -- she made his last years a joy. And she gave him a daughter, my youngest sister Mary.

Mary is just a few months older than my oldest daughter. Mary and Jessica get a real kick out of being Aunt and Niece -- and yet being the same age. They have a warm and close relationship. So in the end, my father's second wife, Carol, was a gift to all of us. All my kids call her Grandma Carol.

My dad wasn't a perfect man. He made plenty of mistakes. He didn't have a lot of ambition. He never went to college or made a lot of money. But he loved his family deeply and held all of us close. Much of what I am came from him.

Love you, dad. I miss you. Happy Father's Day.:thumbup:
 
God bless you both. I'm very sorry that you all are so sad on Father's Day. My wife and I come from similar family situations and don't really celebrate this holiday. You're both very blessed to have had that time with your fathers, as I'm sure you know. It really makes me happy to see others who enjoy Father's Day and deeply greived that you didn't get to have more.
 
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