[ouma1938]

My Dad was a very tough man but a loving one. I am very much like him. He got along with everyone and knew no strangers. He had about the quivalent of a 3rd grade education having left his home Lithuania when he was 7 (in 1907) and walked across Europe with his family to escape the pogroms in Eastern Europe. They caught the first boat they could, which was going to South Africa, and once there he had to work to help support the family. Despite all that he educated himself and became a pretty successful businessman. It took me years and years to fully understand and appreciate him and I am very grateful that I was able to do it before he died in 1969. I miss him more and more every day and I take comfort from knowing that he knows that I love him and thank him and know he was strict with me because he saw himself in me and knew I needed a strong guiding hand, as he had needed. (My Mom was an old softie! lol) Dad all I am and have done is because you taught me the honestly, love, and self discipline are virtues and self pity, dishonesty, and laziness are to be avoided at all costs. I will always love you and always miss you.