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| Dad |
Seems like yesterday.
I learned a lot about being a Dad, from my Dad. I'm sure he learned a lot about it from his Dad, my grandfather.
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| Gramp in his army days, right around WWI. |
Truth be told, we learn both what to do as a dad and what not to do as a dad from our fathers and their fathers. For better or worse, we all make mistakes as fathers. After all, we're human. If we learn from our mistakes, then we grow. If we don't, well hopefully the kids will cut us some slack. My did and still do. As necessary.
I spent a lot of Father's Days away from my Dad. At least 24 of them, what with being stationed at the far flung outposts of democracy. Visits back to the old homestead didn't always coincide with Father's Day. The closest we ever got was 1982. I returned from Korea a few days after the holiday. Of course, Dad didn't mind too much, he got to see his grandson again.
Being a father is a heavy responsibility, but it is nowhere near as hard as being a mom. I think that's why Father's Day seems, quite rightly, to take a back seat to Mother's Day. I have no problems with that. Seems right and proper to me. (And no, The Missus Herself didn't make me say that.)
Being a father is easy though if you have great kids, which I think I do. What's really awesome about being a Dad though, is that if you don't screw it up, you get to be a grandfather some day.
And being a grandfather is the best gift any dad could ask for.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Especially to my "co-grandfathers" Bob and Bill. To my sons Alex and Chris. And to my brother Rob.
If your dad is still around, cherish him. If he's not still around, honor his memory.
I do.
Happy Father's Day Dad.
Happy Father's Day Gramp.
Miss you guys.
A lot.
Happy Father's Day, Sarge and to all the rest of you Fathers out there.
ReplyDeleteI hope the ties aren't too garish! ;-)
Hahaha!
DeleteHappy Father's Day Juvat!
Ha, the gifts we used to give Dad. He was a good sport and pretended that he liked all of them. Seeing Lex' marker just reminded me that he was beginning to hit his stride as a civilian (semi-retired), and had a wonderful future to look forward to. Another life cut short, as is true for too many of our nations finest.
ReplyDeleteI think my Dad had about a hundred tie racks made in shop class by his three boys. Not to mention the numerous odd (and I do mean odd) ties he would receive over the years.
DeleteHappy Father's Day Sarge! You have a fine looking flock in those pictures. I too, lost my Dad in 2008 and there's still a certain heaviness to the heart. The only picture I have of him in his Air Force days is in a yearbook of sorts, from Eglin AFB in 1958. He was in the 3205th Drone Squadron. (Drones weren't then, what they are today.) He told a story about when he crewed a QB-17 and the pilot and co-pilot had a late night at the O-Club. After the bird reached altitude, the officers were "re-inebriated." Dad had to take the controls and finish the flight until they neared their destination and a lower altitude.
ReplyDeleteGreat story Bayouwulf, sounds like your Dad had his act together.
DeleteMy Dad always signed notes and letters, " Love from the Old Goat " I miss you, you Old Goat!
ReplyDeleteRoger that, Scott.
DeleteHappy Fathers Day, Sarge
ReplyDeleteRight back at ya Skip!
DeleteHappy Fathers Day all!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up on a ranch I was always puzzled by the urban tradition of giving ties to dad. Our thing was exotic mineral blocks. Probably have to be a ranch kid to wrap your head around that one. Oh, and Pecan Delights.
Exotic mineral blocks are awesome.
DeleteAs are Pecan Delights!
Happy Father's Day to you too, my friend
ReplyDeleteRight back at ya shipmate.
DeleteHappy Father's Day to all the fathers and soon-to-be fathers.
ReplyDeletePaul L. Quandt
Good sentiment Paul. Gotta remember the "expectant" fathers too!
DeleteHappy Fathers Day to all the step-fathers who took on responsibilities they didn't have to.
ReplyDeleteIf you did the job, you get the title.
DeleteSkritching a cat is good for the souls of both the cat, and the skritcher. I was at the Minnesota Zoo, one cold December day, and in heir aquarium, they have a shark petting tank, about 10-15' across, with Leopard Sharks in it. Three footers, or so. I followed the advice of a Grampa type, who was a docent, and dabbled my fingers in the water. Sharks immediately swam up, and started rubbing their sides against my fingers. My guess is that the pressure of my finger tips felt good on their lateral lines, and the electrical impulses from my body felt good on their Ampullae of Lorenzini. But since I was there for about 5 minutes, letting the small sharks rub against me, I decided that since I was willing to do something, because it makes a fish happy, that I cannot be totally beyond the pale.
ReplyDeleteHappy Fathers Day, Chris, to you, your kids, and your cats!
Scott the Badger, the Shark Whisperer!
DeleteThanks Scott!
I have a feeling for most of us, our Dad's have passed on and our world has been
ReplyDeletelessened by their passing. But it's so easy to honor their memory and I have no
problems hearing my Dad's voice giving me advice when I'm working on a project.
Happy Fathers Day Chris. Looks like you've raised a most awesome family!!
Happy Father's Day Russ. I'd say that you've done pretty dang good yourself. Saw the pictures on the Book of Face, quite a family you've got there. Something to be proud of!
DeleteHappy Dad's day to you and yours. Some people are tragically cursed to have a father's day instead of a Dad's day. My Dad was also called home in 2009 and as you have said it does bring a certain change to this day since that year. But one can not remember Dad without breaking into a smile that warms even the coldest and darkest day. I had the honor of having my Ops Group Commander attend Dad's memorial service and he let me know it was the only memorial service he had ever been to where he left with a smile and certain knowledge that if they had served together they would have been friends. My favorite picture of Dad in his service days is of him receiving the Air Force Cross in South Korea by an Air Force Colonel that looks suspiciously like Robert Mitchum. After serving eight years in the Air Force as a radio operator and then as a refueling boom operator he became an Air Traffic Controller. It was only after I had started my own Air Force career that I realized that his profession was actually quite a stressful and demanding occupation. He truly loved his family and his work and took great joy in every day whether it was at work, at home or teaching his kids to sail. I miss him, but his joy that he lived every day is with me still and it is the gift I intend on giving my son as well.
ReplyDeleteHappy Dad's day to all of my Brothers and Sisters in Arms and in Life,
MSG Grumpy
Right back at ya MSG Grumpy.
DeleteI like that, "Dad's Day." Seems appropriate to me.
Your Dad won the Air Force Cross? That's a big deal and a story worth telling. If you'd like, shoot me an email at oldafsarge AT gmail DOT com. I would love to share that story. We do heroes here, your Dad is one of those in many ways.
Sorry Sarge, it was way too early in the mornin' for me to be typing or thinking, the actual medal was the Air Medal NOT the Cross, don't know what I was thinking...But I will send you the picture of my Dad getting the award from Robert Mitchum (or an imposter). My Dad may not have got the AF Cross, but he is still one of my Hero's!
DeleteHappy Dad's day to you and your family.
MSG Grumpy
The Air Medal is also a significant achievement. I know what it takes to get one of those. I'd still like to tell your Dad's story here on the blog if you'd like.
Delete(I know what you mean about trying to think or type too early in the morning.)
MSG Grumpy:
ReplyDeleteNo kidding about the stress levels in boomer and ATC. Caught a ride in a KC-135 once and watched the refueling, as I recall, two aircraft. Then rode on the boomer's pad all the way to the Big Easy ( Na Olans, as I believe it is properly pronounced. )
Paul
And here I always thought it was N'awlins.
DeleteWhat do I know, I'm a Yankee!
I seem to be undergoing a strip search every time I try to post a comment of late. Am I now persona non grata?
ReplyDeletePaul
What are the symptoms Paul? I don't have any word verification on (that I know of, I just checked) and the only comment moderation is for posts over seven days old. Which I do check every day.
DeleteShoot me an email at oldafsarge AT gmail DOT com and we can get to the bottom of this.
(Blogger will sometimes play games with comments, like deleting them when you hit publish. It ain't perfect, prolly cause it's free!)