OT A tribute to my father on Father's Day

 

 
Dad really never had much of a chance in life to be really successful financially. He was the oldest son in a hard working farming family in North Dakota. Times were hard then and it was difficult for a family to educate children then as they were needed to help on the farm.

My Grandfather was injured in an accident and was not able to work to his full capacity so my dad being just a teenager took over much of the farming hard tasks. He never had the opportunity to go past the 8th grade in school. This hampered him all his life. He was not a stupid man just educated via the school of hard knocks. I was watching him.
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He worked hard all his life. He tried many things to make a living. He loved farming and tried to work a construction job and run a farm he rented at the same time. I learned the value of hard work as he had me beside him all the time. I was watching him.

He loved my mom with all his heart. He never told off color jokes or did I ever hear him say a bad word about mom or my grandmothers. He never cheated. I was watching him.

He went to church when he could and prayed to God for help. Shortly before he died he was taking a bible study course and enjoying it very much. I was watching him.

My Dad was born with a defect in his heart and he had an attack when he was only 41. He smoked and should have quite. But he didn’t and he had another heart attack when he was 51. He never wanted me to smoke and even though I did for a short time, I learned form him what could happen. I was watching him.

The evening before he died in the hospital I was influenced by something to go to the hospital and shave him. We talked about the future and what we wanted to do together. I hugged him and told him I loved him and he said I love you too Larry and I am proud to be your dad. I was so proud to be his son. Because all my life I was watching him and I knew how to be a man because of him.
God Bless you dad and I hope you finally can rest and find peace now. You deserve it so much. And I know now for sure….YOU are watching ME.

 

Awesome post Larry!  Your dad sounds like he was an amazing person. 

What an awesome tribute to your dad..  

Brought tears to my eyes, thank you for sharing.

happy Fathers Day.

susan

Gee what a perfect end to a perfect day. We just celebrated again with my dad (93) and my mom (91). We are so very lucky to still have them. They are still in pretty good shape too. Your post makes me even more appreciative they are still with me. They will always be with me but so very thankful they are still here to hug and talk to and learn from. Excellent post Larry.

Awww that made me cry.  My dad died 5 years ago.  We got into a really bad argument 2 years before he died and dad said some really horrible things to me and I didn't speak to him for 2 years till the week he died.  I was with my dad the day he died and I got to say everything I wanted to say.  My dad then asked me and each of my sisters to go to several different stores and pick something up for him (we each went to a different store).  While we were gone, he died.  I don't think he wanted to go in front of us.  I wish I wouldn't have lost that 2 years with my dad :(.  If you still have a father and you are reading this--cherish the moments that you have.

Sonja

Thank you all for your kindly response to my Dad’s little short story. I loved reading about your experiences as well. My mother still lives she is 95. My father gave all he had until there just wasn’t anything else to give. He never had much in life. Never a new car or the truck he always wanted. If he had anything mostly it was old and worn out. But if there was anything his wife or us boys really needed he would go through hell to get it for us.

 

He was a tough old cowboy. Road broncos in the rodeo. Worked in high construction walking steel beams hundreds of feet in the air in all kinds of weather long before there were safety nets or other gear. He was fearless and honest.

 

He was always ashamed that he was uneducated and made damn sure his boys got an education. My brother and I both graduated from college. I have an MBA and my brother was an investment banker and a millionaire many times over so his dream for us came true. Unfortunately he only lived long enough to see one of my daughters and one of my brother’s children.

 

My wish for all of you my friends on this Father’s day is, if you still have a father here on earth. Just give him what he really needs and that is just your love. A big hug, a kiss, and I love you dad is all we really need. If you are not on good terms with your dad, you be the one to say I am sorry and love him. Sometimes us old guys just can’t let our pride go. Someday if you don’t do it, you may regret it.

 

I am so thankful I had that last evening with my dad and that we could once again tell each other how we felt in our hearts of hearts. Thank you my friends for reading the ramblings of an old father, grandfather and would you believe it great-grandfather. I have been so blessed.

Thanks Larry for sharing.  I feel honored to have read this.  

Sonja

Thanks for sharing your tribute to your dad. He was a special man.

What an awesome tribute... thanks for sharing. I did not read this prior to posting today but I am so glad I did.... Like father, like son ... awesome men!