I worked side by side with my father on his farm. He loved nature and he would try to teach me everything he knew. I love nature because of this.
I was lucky to have a Dad who loved me very much.

Dad died in 1985 but I wish he could be here today to see how good life turned out for me and his granddaughter.

[chelsea24]

I can't say enough about my father. He was my best friend. He was the kindest, most giving man on the planet. If he only had a dollar to his name, he'd give it to the needy. His nickname was Fast Eddie. Every neighbor knew and loved him. And every age group. He was a bricklayer and a damned good one. He was all of my girlfriends "second" father, but my boyfriend's worst nightmare. LOL He'd be the one outside, even in his 80's, and against my wishes, shoveling a neighbor's car out of the snowbanks of Chicago. He also owned a pub that served lunches and if you could not afford it, it was on the house. (Not much of business man, but in the highest sense of the word, a good man.)

He was honest as the day is long. We lived in Cicero, which was just a tad corrupt. Once when my dad's tavern was robbed, the police came (they hung out there and loved my father) and several said, "Hey, Eddie, didn't you have two or three color TV's?" Trying to get him to claim more than was stolen for the insurance. Of course, he didn't. There wasn't a dishonest bone in his body.

He would take all of my friends to the Brookfield Zoo or Kiddieland or a museum every Sunday!
My mom was Bohemian, so he'd tease her and say I was all Irish. And ever since I could walk, my dad and I would spend St. Patrick's day together, just the two of us. In fact, the last day I saw my father alive (9 years ago) it was on a St. Patrick's Day.

In the last years of his life, he got to know and love vetman, my husband. Stephen was so good to my dad, it makes me cry just to think of them together. My husband is about as close to filling my dad's shoes as possible. But no one can ever really fill your dad's shoes.

I am just truly blessed to have and have had the two of the greatest men around. They are my heros. Sorry for rambling, it's a very sentimental day for me.

Happy Father's Day.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Chel in so many ways your Dad sounds like mine. I did not think there could be another person in the world like him. I understand completely what you mean and how you feel.

I think one of the most important lessons my Dad gave to me was his philosophy on life. In many ways it is like the 10 Commandments. Because of one of his beliefs (which he did not waver from) "in do unto others as you want others to do unto you" - he and my mother were both threatened. This did not stop either of them from following through on their beliefs.

One of the hardest conversations, for me, was when we were talking about him dying. I did not want to think about that day at all. Today I am grateful that we did.

He taught me many valuable lessons in life that I have passed unto my children.

He died 18 years ago, my Mother died about 12 days before him.

I need to end here and sit quietly with my thoughts and memories.

Thank you for starting this thread.

HB

[redwitch]

My father was truly my hero. I worshipped the ground he walked on and I still do. He died when I was 12 years at the very young age of 36. He gave me morality. My sense of right and wrong. He taught me to judge a person by their words and actions, not their race (pretty impressive for a Kentucky hillbilly who was taught prejudice from the cradle). He taught me that being uneducated was not sinful but refusing to learn was shameful. He taught me that being afraid was not shameful but that letting that fear rule my life was unforgiveable. He constantly reminded me that the only thing of value I would ever own was my word. He taught me that as long as I could look myself in the mirror at the end of a day, I had succeeded.

My father, like many of yours, was generous to a fault. He was also careful to give in a way that left the other knowing he'd done Dad a favor by taking whatever it was. He accepted people as they were -- it didn't matter what your rank or station in life was, it didn't matter what your skin color or religion was, it didn't matter if your sexual preference was male, female or whatever. He accepted you as you were. He only asked that you not harm another out of cruelty, vindictiveness or pettiness.

He quit school to join the Army. While traveling around the world with two kids and a wife and an incredibly trying job, he managed to not only get his high school diploma but ended with a Ph.D. in philosophy. He worked up (and down) the ranks. He should have died a major but his C.O. pulled some strings and he ended dying a full bird. He was comfortable at a formal embassy dinner. He was just as comfortable brewing up some shine and sharing it with his men.

He had his flaws: an incredible fear of needles; he had a temper that would put any redhead to shame; he could drink a fish under the table; my mother had been known to rap him on the head more than once for cursing in front of the kids; he could be pigheaded and didn't have the sense to back down from a fight -- whether the neighborhood bully or the general he felt was an "unmitigated idiot who didn't know his head from his arse".

This kind, gentle, strong man was my father. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to brag about him. I keep hoping that one day I will be half the person he was.

[colleenj]

I lost my dad 2 1/2 years ago but I was oh so blessed to have him for as long as I did. He taught me to believe in myself, depend on myself but always be willing to give to others, if you had the opportunity to help someone else- do it, work hard, be loyal, and that family comes first.
Some of my earliest childhood memories are of him reading to me every night. He loved to read and taught me to love books as much as he did. I still think of him (and thank him) when I read every night. Not a day goes by when I don't miss him but I have fond memories and laugh at how much I have become like him (especially when I hear myself say something he always said!).

[Rokinronda]

This is so hard. My 1st Fathers Day without my Dad. My parents divorced when I was 13, but Dad was always around. My mom and dad remained very good friends. Every Sunday, Dad would come and take us to the roller skating rink. After, we would have the best italian food at his Aunties home. I don't remember him ever being angry. He called me darlin'. Always, always smiling and always full of life. Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset, quickly go the years.......we danced together to that Fiddler on the Roof song at my wedding. The years did go so swiftly. He threatened Ed that he would break his knees if he ever hurt me in any way. (his italian roots showed often) Threats were never needed. Ed adored me and respected and loved my Dad. It has been 6 months of Sundays without hearing his voice, "Hi Darlin'!!!" How are you? How is Ed? And that gorgeous great granddaughter of mine?" How are you, Dad?? His answer, "don't worry about me, hon, I'm as strong as a bull!" He was! Dad visited The Villages and we danced at KB's for hours!! Dad was amazed and loved TV and was to visit again last Dec.. He passed away suddenly Nov. 14th. Thankfully, I was in RI in August and we embraced so lovingly before my departure. Not knowing it would be our last hug. I miss him immensely, but know I have a dancing, smiling, loving daddy angel watching over me. Smiling, telling me, don't worry darlin', I am always with you!! He is on my mind, and in my heart every moment. I miss him so much! Happy 1st Fathers Day in heaven, Dad! Dance with the angels knowing we will dance together again..............now I will try to stop sobbing! Mc, my dad was a Mc, I am a Mc, also. Dad was known as Johnny Mac. Thanks for this post!!!!

[nONIE]

MC,

Wonderful topic to start in view of Fathers day this Sunday.

My dad was a polish immigrant. He believed in hard work and sacrificed for his family, we always came first. He believed in the golden rule and always lived by it and tried to teach his children to live by it(altho we were little brats).
He was taught the trade of tailoring in Poland and was a darn good one. He made all of our winter coats every winter with pride and made sure they were very warm to keep the people he loved warm as we walked everywhere in those days. (did not have a car).

I remember him spoon feeding my aunt (who lived with us) on her death bed until she took her last breath. then he broke down and cried like a baby without shame.

He was one of the most wonderful men I have ever known, and I honor him with this rememberence today. Love you so much dad, you will forever remain in my heart. :'(

[sschuler1]

You are all making me cry so much, that I decided to tell a funny story about my dad. Dad was always playing practical jokes on my mom, and we loved it when he would get us involved in the prank. One day he decided to splurge and bought a few lobsters at the grocery store for dinner. But he couldn't resist scaring my mom with them first. So he decided to put them in the crisper drawer in the refrigerator so that when she opened the drawer they would be clawing to get out! Well, it took four days for my mother to get around to opening that drawer. I remember my dad feeding lettuce to the lobsters to try to keep them alive. Those were some angry lobsters when she opened that drawer! I'm sure you can imagine the scream....

[KathieI]

I am a truly lucky person. Not only do I have memories, I still have him with us on this planet.

Most of you know, Dad is moving with me to TV, hopefully soon. He is 92 years old on July 23 and is almost totally blind. But, he's looking for a dancing partner to do the lindy hop at the squares, so if I can have any volunteers, please pm me. He is adorable and fun loving, actually quite a tease and loves women!! The other day as we were packing his stuff, he said, "daughter, don't forget to pack my golf clubs???" :dontknow:

Pop, your blind!! ??? We'll, he says, maybe someone will watch my ball for me cause I can't see that far!! What an attitude, that's been the reason for his staying power. He's looking forward to hanging out with some of you "young" guys" to watch football and golf on TV and have a beer at a Sports Bar. You'll see him at the squares dancing his fool head off. Don't know how he does it, but I hope it passes on to myself and my brother.

God Bless you Dad. Your my best friend, and I love you. Kathie

SS, that is a funny story!! Thanks,

Wow -These are incredible memorials to our beloved fathers! :bigthumbsup:

[Rokinronda]

Thanks to you Mc!!!! Great topic. To all men, Happy Fathers Day. If you aren't a DAD, you are an Uncle, brother, or son and all men should be honored and thanked. Happy Man Day!!

[barb1191]

Soooo many wonderful memories of my Dad. From reading other posts, it sounds as though my Dad was your Dad, as well. LOL I feel that there's such a special closeness between fathers and daughters instinctively inherent in us all gals.

I was so very fortunate to have a loving, devoted dad who always was there for his family who adored him. I never once recall my Dad ever speak a harsh word about anybody. He lived by that golden rule as well...."do unto others...." I recall my Dad as a brilliant man who always had answers to my questions. He was a soft-spoken man with a great sense of humor and enjoyed writing parodies and poems. He loved to cook and was a great cook. We would tease Dad about cooking and he replied with...."and who are your best chefs?" Of course, at that time the answer was that men were.

Dad has been gone for many years now and his loving memory fills my heart with love.

barb

Well, I suppose thanks are in order for my Dad's putting up with me as I pursue my dream of arming survivors of crimes with access to practical information from outside the various librarianship professions despite my 4 degrees (JD, MA, BA, BA) and the various recognitions I have received for pushing this cause since 1992 like 24 nominations to different Marquis Who's Who publications. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_Who's_Who I am listed in 14 of these various Marquis Who's Who editions of different publications.

I cannot think of very many parents who would sacrifice so much for one of their son's seeming very unpractical dreams of making survivors of crimes recovery possibly quicker here in the United States by ironically making practical information more accessible to victims of crimes. https://www.talkofthevillages.com/sm....html#msg10959

I use my Marquis Who's Who in the World 12th Ed., 1995 volume, for instance, to prop up my head of my bed because of my acid reflex.

I have a lot of found memories as these are still going on. I do not think I would have even had a bed to sleep on without the help of my parents in this fight of have been engaged in since 1991 to help crime victims in various US states.

[jojo]

Thanks for a great topic and the opportunity for reflection. My father passed away five years ago at the age of 91. He was riding his bicycle up to a month before he died. He smoked a pipe and loved to talk with anybody he would meet. I was an only child and so got much encouragement from my mother and father. Kathie, we are moving to The Villages with my 95-year old mother who is 65 in physical and mental years. Maybe she should meet your Dad.

[Frangyomory]

My father was my hero. There were three of us kids. My older sister, myself and my younger brother who passed away in 2007. After dad died, we talked about what he meant to us and each of us thought we were his favorite! Amazing how he made each of us feel special.

He was a man who only had a grade school education. He was born in 1913 and because his dad left his mother with five young boys, they spent some years in a Catholic orphanage. This left an imprint on dad and family was everything to him. The boys got out of the orphanage one by one and found their mom and each other and became a family once again. He was 27 and my mom was 21 when they married.

My dad was a doorman and a building superintendent and always had two jobs but made sure that we all had the best education possible. We didn't have everything we wanted but we had everything we needed. Because he was concerned about the NYC public schools, he worked extra hours to pay tuition to enroll us in a Catholic school in grade school and then in high school. That was important to him.

He didn't believe in credit. He saved for anything he needed to buy. I loved him so very much and we all knew he loved us. We lost him at the age of 61, in fact, one week before his 62nd birthday in 1975. My mother lived until 2004 but a day never went by that she and we didn't miss him.

This man with no high school education did all the family's income taxes every year. He helped us kids with our homework and always had the right answers. He wouldn't think of laying a hand on us kids. He couldn't hit us because of the way his father treated him and his greatest fear was that his children would not love him.

Yes, my dad was and will always be my hero. I know he is in heaven because people like him have special places in heaven and he was there to meet my mom when she joined him. Does not matter how long it has been, I miss him and I hope that one day we will all be together in heaven once again.