I remember when I was growing up my dad was the behind the scene guy. He was the one who worked all day, but came home just about dinnertime to ask how things went in my day. On the weekends, he was the one who drove us to the lake, fired up the engine on the boat and took us to the farthest shore. He was the one who's shoulders I would climb up on and skim across the water as he water-skied.
As a kid, he would pay me a quarter to sit up on the back of the couch and massage his scalp. I use to love to do that. May be why I became a hairstylist.
Dad loved to tinker. He loved to go to rummage sales and buy the broken things. You know the things that no one else would buy! He would then bring them home and pull them apart to see how they worked. Nine times out of ten he got them working. I remember when he would work on the cars, I would be his #2 mechanic. My top job was to hand him the various tools. I didn't know tools from a hole in the ground but he would patiently describe what it looked like and wait for me to find it. When it would have probably been alot faster if he had done it himself. I learned how to do alot of house repairs from my Dad.
He was the typical father when it came time for me to date. "The boys must pick you up at the door and come in to meet your mother and I before you are going anywhere with him. None of this honking the horn for you to come out nonsense." God! it always made me so nervous when a "new boy" had to meet Dad, cause my dad would tell it like it is. He scared the hell out of alot of boys during my dating days.
Although, it was my Mom's job to teach me to drive, my dad taught me how to change a tire and change the oil. "No one should be allowed to drive a car without knowing how to take care of it."
At 18, I turned up pregnant! Damn! My Dad was going to be pissed. My life was not worth living. Mom found out and told me she was going to tell Dad that night, when they went out to dinner. I was scared to death. I just knew that I was going to be thrown out or beaten or who knew what. (although, I had never been thrown out or beaten before, but this was different) I heard the car pull into the driveway after about 3 hours of torturous waiting. I braced myself for the yelling. My dad walks in and says in a pretty cheery voice, "Hey, guess who we had dinner with?" *Damn she didn't tell him* "Who?", I asked. "Grandpa and Grandma!" he said with a big smile.
HUH? My grandparents lived in Minnesota....
"Well, we are going to be Grandpa and Grandma, aren't we!" he says with a big smile.
He was a man of many surprises.
He loved his grandsons to death and there were many hours spent with them sitting on his lap while he talked to China or some other far off land on his ham radio.
My Dad passed away at the age of 54. He had cancer. It wasn't pretty but he did it with as much grace as anyone can under the circumstances. I was just 24.
Alot has happened in my life since my Dad passed away. I have bought a house, gotten divorced, raised my boys, found the love of my life and gotten married again. His grandsons have both found wonderful women and have both gotten married. Now there is a great grandchild on the way. Not to mention all the normal things that happen everyday.
Some might say my Dad has missed alot of my life. I don't! My Dad is with me every minute of everyday. I feel him around me all the time. I know he is there.
Happy Father's Day, Daddy.
I love you!
Pass the tissues. I lost my Dad when I was 17, I don't think you are ready at any age, but 17 is a tough time. Your Dad's reaction to your pregnancy was remarkable. What a wonderful man he must have been. P.S. Love, love, love your new skin!
...and your Dad is remembering all of that too.
Ummm... Deb, pass that tissue box over here when you're done.
Wow, That is a great story, I hope that one day my children will be able to talk about me like that.