Blogs

Remembering Dad

by - edited

This week, I wanted to share a little about my dad with all of you for Father's Day...I admit, writing this has been hard for me. I miss him every day.

My dad is my hero. He worked as a sheet metal worker his entire life, while also working as a carpenter and electrician on weekends. I always knew my dad could fix anything…although I do remember him having to push one of our old cars into a car lot!

Dad once told me that I would have to work for everything I got in life because I would not get anywhere just because of who HE was in life...well he could not have been more wrong. Dad taught me and my two sisters how to work hard, be strong, and love family! Really, that's all one needs to get by.

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My dad had an interesting childhood. He grew up the oldest son, with two sisters and two brothers. He worked on a chicken farm in his teens and was a great basketball player...he often joked about how he once won a championship game because as the other team's star player went for the layup, my dad’s front tooth caught him in his shoulder...which is why my dad’s team won the championship!

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Dad was drafted into the army right out of high school and married my mom while in the army...this June would have been their 63rd anniversary. My dad was definitely outnumbered in our house as we were all girls…right down to the dog and guinea pig! I laugh when I think how three girls, my mom, and my dad all used one bathroom and never gave it a second thought.

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His favorite thing to do on a Sunday was to take us for a drive in the mountains, which would include a stop at the local dairy farm for ice cream. For fun, most nights after work he would go down to the river and catch fish...sometimes he would bring them home in his bait bucket, and then he would take the fish back down to the river so the neighborhood kids could catch them!

My dad was so proud of his family and taught us so much. He taught my sisters and I how to freshwater fish! He also taught us to play basketball, supported our music lessons, and saw us through band competitions. Dad also adored his grandkids and they loved him! He happily and with pride went to graduations, football games, and dance recitals...I know how very lucky my family and I are to have had my dad in our lives.

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I guess what I miss most is his advice. I always knew he would have the answer for me. Whenever I called home and he would answer the phone, I would ask what he was doing. His answer was always "Talking to you!"