Honor your Dad

[DnStClr]

Nothing to do with trucks- but my dad died Friday morning and I just want to encourage you guys to give honor and spend time with your dad when you can.
I sort of feel like an orphan today with both parents gone. Wouldn't mind reading some of your favorite momentos of time spent with your dad.

[JRConnieK10]

Sorry to here about your dad. Thats the one thing I don't take for granted anymore my dad is getting up there and still thinks he can work all the time I talk to him every chance I get and got him to start coming to my house every sunday for dinner.  One of my favorite memories, 95' Brickyard 400 Nascar race. Sat through the rain all weekend waiting for them to get the race in. It was my dads and mine first ever live nascar race we had awesome seats in the first turn penthouse and both of us were big Dale Earnhardt fans. Later dad sent the tickets to Dale Earnhardt to get them signed he gave them to me for a gift I have them mounted in a frame. My thoughts and prayers with you and your family.

[Captkaos]

Sorry to hear that Don.  Mi parents seperated when I was 13.  I don't see him that much anymore as he is basically estranged.  He came by about 4-6 months ago and say my daughter for the first time.  I think some of the greatest memories were our weekly fishing trips to the lake. We had a camper and would spend the weekend at the lake.  He drove a 1975 Chevy LWB pickup that he bought new to these trips.  This is how I got hooked on these trucks.

[zieg85]

My thoughts are with you.  I lost my mom going on 11 years ago.  She was is terrible health ever for about 15 years prior.  Through the trials he was always there for her.  Her quality of life wasn't all that good and her passing was a relief and expected for some time.  He remarried a wonderful lady a couple of years ago and is really happy.  I try to call him at least once a week and stop by when I can.  He just turned 70 and has heart issues.  I used to ride along with him on weekend calls, he was an elevator repair man.  The funniest moment was when I heard the "F" word come out of his mouth when he was talking to one of the guys building super.  He never used that word at home and I have never heard it since.  I cherish every moment I have with him. 

[VileZambonie]

Very sorry to hear that Don.

Unfortunately I have no Favorite memories of my father unless you consider "You'll never amount to anything, you'll be a garbage man, etc" and him beating the living heck out of me a good memory lol. My father was no father. So I envy all of you who had a Dad to do things with and have strong memories. I would have rather never known my father than have the memories I have. So if you have a cool Dad, spend time together, and if you are a Dad, try never to get mad at your kids and focus on what they do right instead of wrong.

[red4wd]

Sorry to hear about your dad.  We will keep your family in our prayers.  
The coolest thing my dad did for me was instill his work ethic in me...though I fought it for many years. Dad was an Vo-Ag teacher when I was a kid so I got to learn all the cool stuff early on.  I think I was the only second grader that could weld and use a cutting torch.

[HAULIN IT]

Sorry to hear of your loss Don. I can sorta relate to what your feeling. Everyone is different though. I lost my Dad to cancer when I was 13. He was a real car guy, unfortunately we didn't have a lot of time to spend doing it together. It has to be tougher as you get older though, at 13 life is moving fast & you adapt. In your case you spent many years with him, gotta be tough. It's strange how certain things stick in your mind at a young age. Me & my brother got a go cart for Christmas (Dad) when we were 3-4 years old, a couple years later my Dad was changing the oil for us & said "Boys, How did this paint get worn off of this? Do you know?" He said pointing at the governor linkage (where we tied a string on to pull it under the seat while he was on afternoon shift) His eyes got glassy (I remember it like it was yesterday) he didn't say anymore. As I get older I  think about it more, I don't know what was he thinking. He was no dummy, He knew very well how that paint got wore off. To this day I don't know if he was really mad because he knew we lied? Was he upset because he knew we would blow up the engine (which we did) or because, inside he was really thinking "that's my boy's!" I'll never know. A couple of years ago I helped a father & son build a '34 Ford steetrod (they got in a little over their heads) It was a great time seeing the two of them working for a common goal, but bickering about who had a better idea. We worked on it every weekend for about two years. It was a great experience! Again sorry for your loss, think about all of the good times, you will make it, Lorne 

[Blazin]

Don my thoughts are with you. I lost my father in 94. It will get better, not to soon but it will with time.  

 My dad was more of a father to me than a dad. Its not a bad thing just we didn't have the same intrests. He was a tool & die / machinist / gun smith. I was a car and truck freak before I could walk. His father passed when he was only 10, so in his defense he really never learned how to be a dad, but he was a good father. How I wish I had listened to him instead of fighting with him all my teen life. It amazed me how much smarter he got about the time I was 20 years old. I realized he would not be here forever, and tried to focus on better times with him after that. He passed 4 years later. I am thankfull he beat my butt when I needed it, and he loved us all very much. I find my self acting, saying, or doing things like him sometimes, and it gives me a chuckle.
 Even though I am not a hunter I think some of the best memories are the several times I went with him hunting. To this day I can go for a walk in the woods and its like he is right there beside me. Telling me what to do if I get lost, or hurt out in the wilderness.
 Harold.

[choptop]

Our prayers are with you. I'm with Vile on the father thing, but had a grandpa that took the place. I lost Grandpa last year at the age of 91, but have the memory of us getting pulled over in his 86 Monte Carlo SS for drag racing,( and spanking) a 90 Firebird GTA. At the time he was 76 years old.

[Lt.Del]

I am sorry Don.  But just remember, as long as you have your thoughts of him, he is never gone.

I hope my son sees me in the same light as I see my dad.  He has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met.  From being in the Marine Corp on the front line in 'Nam, being shot up and going right back out, to providing for his family and building our house with his two hands--he's someone I'll never match.

I will always recall when I brought home a "B" on a report card, he'd ask why I didn't get an "A".  (I can't wait til my son goes to school  )  Of course, I didn't have a legitimate reason for it.

We'd always, every summer, go on a big vacation, somewhere in the U.S., and I beleive that is why I love camping today--before I was 12 I already saw Niagara Falls, Disney Land, Disney World, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Black Hills of S.D.,  Mt. Rushmore, been to Hollywood, San Fran, L.A. Philly, New York, Cape Cod, Orlando, Cooperstown, the list goes on and on---and he did all this on a mail man's salary.   

He isn't one for material stuff. I wish I could adopt that from him. Family is always first with him.  And to think, he dropped out of school to pick cotton and take care of his mom and siblings way back when.  His dad was crap...left the family as a drunk.  My dad didn't even go to his funeral.

I could go on and on.  He wants to be buried in Arlington Cemetery, and I can already see myself going to the honorable cemetery seeing his grave (I hope it is a long time from now)

Again, sorry Don.

Andy   

[Redneckchevy]

Thats all touching and im sorry for your loss i wish i had a father like that but My father is a drunk that has a wife 2 girlfriends and is 65 years old....When growing up he would sit me in the corner and make me read chilton books all day till i was blue in the face..there was no playing catch or vacations...The only good thing that came from this father and son relation ship was when i was a lil kid and he bought a brand new 1986 chevrolet k10 swb...Red with a 4 inch lift kit on it...When we wear riding around in that truck it was like he was a real dad..We got along and every thing he let me help work on it...Then he sold it for 300 bucks in 1993 and went back to the bar...So i in return bought a truck just like that..to honor my father...And thats why these trucks have a special spot in my heart...

[80stepsideguy]

Hey don,
i am with the guys here and i am so sorry for your loss as well.My father is going to be 59 next month and the toughest part of it all is he doesnt like me spending money on cars and we argue till im 7 shades of blue in the face and my mother gets on his ass BIG TIME and tells him to leave me alone.But whenever i needed something he was there and vice a versa.I love him to death and know he wont be here forever as well and to me i`d love ot build a father /son project but i dont see that ever happening cause were like water and oil and ewe just dont mix.But i try my best to make him happy and i know he appreciates it but he never got to meet his own father cause the night my father was born my grandfather(his father) was a bouncer and got suckerpunched and had  internal bleeding and noone helped him up and they watched him die there on the floor(this was in 1949).So he to never got to grow up an spend time with his real father but his stepfather was brutal.He told me he and my uncle were playing in the yard and somehow my uncle had a piee of wood and boke my fathers leg, he was in tears crying out so bad, well my uncle got a beating for doing it and gave my ol man a beating on top of the broken leg cauew he was fooling around.I guess back then hitting your kid was nothing liek it is now.But i cherish the moments he tells me bout the golden days of his life and keep them in your heart don cause they will never be forgotten.

thanks
pat

[JJSZABO]

Sorry to here that Don - you and your family our in my prayers.

I had pretty much a normal childhood with my father.  The relationship went sour after I got married and my mother and wife couldn't get along - we are now estranged.  Anyway, sorry for your loss.  God bless.  Jeff

[kfoz]

Don,

I can't tell you enough of how very sorry I am to hear you lost a parent. Losing my Mom 2 years ago still affects me daily. I miss her very much and wished for so many years she would get better. She didn't take care of herself very well. I did my best to make her comfortable till I saw her pass. It was surreal.  BUT!!! I know in my heart she is well now and watching over me.  Don, your Dad is watching you. Take comfort in knowing this. Take care of yourself.

kfoz
'78 Silverado SWB
47000 orig. miles

[cjtimp]

Very sorry to hear of your loss. I still have both of my parents around although they divorced several years ago. My father is in poor health, and will likely not be with us long. I am spending more time with him and calling him more often. My best memories of my father are really to numerous to mention, BUT I do remember him showing up for ALL the baseball games, football games, car races and activities that I was involved in. He sacrificed SO MUCH for me and our family. To tell you the truth he STILL does. I will miss my father VERY MUCH when he passes. He has taught me SO much. I can only hope to be HALF the father he has been.