Excuse me for a few moments as I indulge myself a bit of sentimentality here.
As a child the love I had for my father was unmeasurable. He was the rock of our family, the breadwinner, the one who took the whole family on vacations each summer, the main disciplinarian, and the one who set an example for me as a boy on what being a respectful human being and a man really meant.
While I loved him tremendously I don’t think until recently I ever came to appreciate him for who he was and what he did.
Parenting is tough work and even with the wonderful example of my father and mother to follow I haven’t always been completely successful at it. As for my father, even to this day I have people who knew my father from years ago tell me how he was such a good friend, honest man or their favorite uncle. He was part of a great generation.
He came from a large family with eight brothers and one sister. One of his brothers died of a childhood illness…I was named after him. Another brother was killed in a farming accident and my father, a teenager at the time, worked the farm supporting his brothers surviving family for a year. My father served in the army in WWII and was with Patton’s 3rd Army in Europe. During the war he lost another brother who was serving in the Marines in the Pacific. At the end of the war my father and mother bought an old falling down homestead/farm and rebuilt the house while living in the only standing room — they were both also working full time jobs. He worked for the same company for 35+ years, earning almost nothing by todays standards, while farming on the side. His hard work gave us everything we needed and some of the things we wanted.
He never had it easy but you’d never know it because he always made do and made it seem easy. I’m sure there were times he worried about things, about what tomorrow might bring, but I only remember how happy those times seemed. Those memories may be shaped by the kindness of time but they are also due to him, his love, his hard work and his sacrifices.
My father passed away from Leukemia 22 years ago and I still think of him often. I always appreciated and loved my father, but I’m sorry he didn’t live long enough to see me grow wise enough to fully understand the role he played in my life by being the person and father he was — but I certainly do now.
Happy Father’s Day!
Touching sentiment, Earl. Sounds like you had a very grounded childhood due in large part to your father’s efforts.
Eric, thanks. At the time I always thought i had a pretty normal childhood for the times. Like I said, my father always made it look easy, but having lived and experienced more now I know it wasn’t as easy as it looked. :-)
Your beautiful tribute brought tears to my eyes. Father’s Day is never easy for me and hasn’t been for many years, as my father died young. I sometimes think that the pain has finally faded. Inevitably, it returns with a vengeance.
Anita, thank-you and I certainly understand it not being easy. The last time I saw my father he was in the hospital and I was visiting — I was living out of state at the time. Just as I was preparing to leave and say my goodbyes the minister from his church came to visit and I left without telling Dad much I wanted to. He passed away a couple of weeks later and I’ve never felt complete closure because I didn’t have a chance to “really” say goodbye.
A fine way to memorialize your dad’s life and impact on you and your family. I hope you have a happy Father’s Day today.
I appreciate that, Don!
What a great story Earl. Thanks for sharing it!!
Hey, Steve, thank you. Haven’t hear from you in a while. I hope everything’s going well.
Hi Earl, Life here in Astoria has been very busy this spring. Volunteering keeps me very busy, perhaps more so than I prefer at times but I consider the work to be important to others! I plan to do a status update on my blog soon.
Great post for Father’s Day Earl! It’s always awesome to see people that have fond memories of their father. Some people are not so fortunate to have such a grounded foundation. I love the vintage photo, again great post!
Hey Nik, thanks. Yes, I count myself lucky to have had the secure family I did.
Wonderful tribute to your father and hope you had a wonderful Fathers Day!
Thanks, Monte, I did.
Wow, Earl! What a great story. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thanks, Paul.
You made me cry here, Earl. Many of us have or have had parents that had to live through tough times to provide shelter and food on the table. To me it sounds like you’re blessed, having being brought up by such a loving father as he seemed to have been.
Ove, I certainly count myself blessed in many ways to have had the home and parents I did. Family was always number one to my father. Thanks!
If you could pick your parents, you couldn’t pick a better father. He would be proud on this day.
Thanks, Ken!
What a wonderful tribute to your father, Earl. Thank you for sharing such a touching story.
Martina, I don’t believe I ever said thank-you enough to my father when he was living so it felt like a good time to say it now.
Thanks!