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Was reading through old posts

when I ran across this one. You guys sure know how to hit a guy hard and make you apprecieate what one has or had.

I didn't know my dad too well. He left home when I was five and then we moved 1800 miles away a few years later. During all those years I never got to see him again and in a total of 20+ years I may have talked to him maybe a total of 10 times. And of course each time I did he was drunk. When he died I really didn't have too many emotions about it. I flew north and took care of his estate (whatever that was) and came right home. I think sometimes on what I missed out on but then realize everything happens for a reason, who knows how I would have turned out if was around him during all those years.

The thing that hit me the worst is when mom died in April. She has been sick for quite some time and the last few years she has been in some major pain and starting to lose her mind. She was only 57 when she passed, but she lived a great 57 years and touched many people. Here's a lady who did everything she could for kids, even some things she wasn't proud of. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her. Shit, I was online the other night and found a funny website and started to email her this and then realized what was up. We did this all the time, she'd send me some corny joke or website and I would send her something back. It sucks to realize I am alone now (no other family besides one drunk brother) with the exception of my kids.

I'm a single dad of three teenagers. I've been raising them by myself for the last 6 or 7 years. At times I can't figure out how I'm going to do this and then remember that mom did it and she didn't have the skills that I have been given by God. When I realize this I just figure I can go on and figure out what I need to do.

OK enough of me being sappy but I just wanted to share about my mother.

God Bless You Mom
Your Golden Boy, Shane

My dad died a couple of years ago, he had just gone into the real bad stages of alzheimers and we we making plans to put him in a full time care home. He kept wandering off and we were concerned he would get hurt. I still remember the day that I took his car away from him, I don't know if he really knew what was going on but he sure looked beaten down by it. He died in the car with my mom from a heart attack. He had had heart problems since 1978 but he quit smoking and lost weight and was able to control it without surgery. The alzheimers was oncomming for alot of years . In the early stages it was real paranoid behavior as it got worse his memory went. He used to turn the hot water off to the shower after three minutes on me when I was young. He also made me pick up leaves once after it snowed on them over night , after I told him I would get it done. But he also gave me my first real job and took me camping and worked seven days a week sometimes to take care of my mother ,sister and me. My wife and I have adopted a boy
from Korea, I hope that I can be half the father to our son as my dad was to me, I miss him everyday.

My dad passed away 11 years ago, and I still miss him.He was one of the best "forty two" domino players that I have seen play the game.He was always eager to learn and never to busy to pass on his knowledge,if you wanted to learn.
He was fun to be with,a good sense of humor,enjoyed family,worked hard,provided for his family and loved God.
He taught me so many different things in life.
He challenged me in learning without being critical of my errors,always encouraging.

I don't remember much about my dad. He died when I was 12. I lost my mother 5yrs ago, my stepdad 4yrs. and my sister one month ago. I'm the only one left now of that part of my life. So you guys that have yours, enjoy them, they won't be around long enough.

James, I have a son that lives in Boston. He hasn't talked to me or his brothers in years. Even with his big brother having a broken neck. I really can see it. He has to be his own man and leave this madness only to create one of his own. He might as well be here in south texas where his family is. Roy

Luck only gets ya so far, the rest you have to work at.

Had a nice family dinner with Mom and Dad last night.
They told me how proud they am of me.

I am a lucky man.

What a topic.

I'm one of the lucky ones for sure and don't think I don't know it. I golfed with my Dad yesterday. He's still in good health at age 69. We play cards once a week usually.

I know it won't be that way forever. I'm enjoying it while I can.

I know I have said this before , but I think its worth repeating

As a child I was brought up / raised by both my parents. My mother and father actually loved each other , in fact they were best friends. They never had to beat us as children , they never spoke in anger around us . I was raised back in the day that fathers could actually love their sons and there was no sex involved. When my mother passed away he lost his best friend and when he passed away I lost my best friend.

Good job James. It's not often that a thread can run its course with no altercations.

That is great. This is why I started a thread like this.

got 2 calls from my 2 sons in Iraq, now that was the best father's day present I ever got. 128 F. where one is at. said temp. in his quarters was 103 F. A/C kicking with a 22 F. delta...but no condensate...wonder what the pressures and s/h, s/c are.......damn i miss them boys

O.K

And you're a redneck, rebel boy........but we were lucky no doubt.
And though we don't always agree on things like which politician is worse, I still consider you a good friend.




Try not to cry, OK........

Originally posted by Diceman
Nice stories, happy fathers day.
My dad been gone 17 years, my wifes dad just died in march, were up at his old house in NE Pa this past weekend, have to straighten out the estate and all that stuff. Was weird being there without him, looking at all his stuff, his memories, his life.
But .....we got to stop and have dinner with my daughter, at Penn State, on the way home and my son who is in combat training at Ft. McCoy for a trip to the desert next month, called me about 10 last night. That kind of stuff is what's really important.

I know you and I politically don't see eye to eye on a lot of stuff and that's mostly because you're f*ked up,a yankee and all that also but I know we had some good fathers when others did not so I guess we got lucky.

Nice stories, happy fathers day.
My dad been gone 17 years, my wifes dad just died in march, were up at his old house in NE Pa this past weekend, have to straighten out the estate and all that stuff. Was weird being there without him, looking at all his stuff, his memories, his life.
But .... me, my wife and daughter, got to stop and have dinner with my youngest daughter, at Penn State, on the way home and my son who is in combat training at Ft. McCoy for a trip to the desert next month, called me about 10 last night. That kind of stuff is what's really important.

How Father's Mature

How Fathers Mature!

When I was 4, “My daddy can do anything.”

When I was 7, “My dad knows a whole lot!”

When I was 9, “Dad doesn’t know quite everything.”

When I was 12, “Dad just doesn’t understand.”

When I was 14, “Dad is old Fashioned.”

When I was 21, “That man is out of touch.”

When I was 25, “Dad’s OK.”

When I was 30, “I wonder what Dad thinks about this?”

When I was 35, “I must get Dad’s input first.”

When I was 50, “What would Dad have though about that?”

When I was 60 “I WISH I COULD TALK IT OVER WITH DAD ONCE MORE!"

Originally posted by James 3528
There is always two sides two a story and in a lot of cases although tragic, some of you guys were probably better off that your Dad left. But I had a friend that had a father that left him and his mother when he was 2 years old. That was all he was told, that he left. Years later when he found out why, he felt sorry for his Dad and less of his Mother and step Father.

You are absolutely correct James. My case was not this way, my paternal father was simply a bastard who cared only for himself. I was the youngest of three that he left. My older brother and sister had a much stronger relationship with him and had a hard time adjusting to our step dad. When I found out a few years ago that our paternal father had died about 10 years prior I was a bit calloused in my telling my brother and sister. They took it hard while I was relieved that someone like that was no longer infecting the world.

On the other hand, my ex-wife had always been told that her father simply never had a desire to be a father. Her father and mother met and married while the two were in the Army together and got divorced before my ex was born.

When we decided to get married at 18 years of age, we were surprized to get a very nice card and gift from who turned out to be my ex's father. He had evidentely been keeping tabs on her all of her life.

The truth was that he was going into law school after the Army and raising a family would have been troublesome. My exes mother made him a deal that if he never tried to contact my ex and left them completely alone she would never hold him responsible. He took the offer and regretted the decision early in life.

My exes father went on to be one of the premier Patent Law attorneys in the country. He wrote the still used law book Patent Law and Litigation. By the time he caught up with my ex he was lecturing around the country on patent law. He would send my ex plane tickets (always 2) to where ever he was lecturing and she and usually my mom would fly there to visit with him. Just as my ex was getting to know that side of the family, he died suddenly of a brain tumor caused by a fall.

So, as James has stated, there is two sides to every story and I for one was much better off getting the dad I got.

Funny how life is..this is the next thread I read after I wrote that. http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthr...threadid=78404

oroy54
Professional Member

Registered: Jul 2004
Posts: 637
Thank you all for your concern. I am glad that I am in good standing on this site. It seems that I know some of your personalities, friendship with peers. I see that most of you have been through the trials of everyday living. But for the most part I do have it good. James, you got it right again, She is a Torch Head, but there is never a dull moment with her. I thought that was funny. Lets get on with it. Thanks again, Roy

There is always two sides two a story and in a lot of cases although tragic, some of you guys were probably better off that your Dad left. But I had a friend that had a father that left him and his mother when he was 2 years old. That was all he was told, that he left. Years later when he found out why, he felt sorry for his Dad and less of his Mother and step Father.