What you bring me today daddy

[brad 66]

my dad passed 3 years ago still miss him a lot but .think about him every time i work , drive or do anything with my chargers .thanks steve i can relate .i love my cars but really love the way it just brings back great feeling about dad .

 

[Speedbird]

I'm afraid our society now underestimates how important (good) fathers are to a family's structure.

 

[747mopar]

My dad's still kicking but at 41 I find myself appreciating a lot of what he did for us. One of the best gifts he ever gave us was brush hogging the TV cable to the antenna lol. We never knew until we were older that it wasn't accidental but I can remember being one of the only kids in school building club houses, boats, armored suits, etc when other kids were watching TV and playing games. He always kept lumber, nails and Legos around along with a full machine shop (old machines he had gathered) which he used to supplement his income. My dad is literally a genius even by IQ standards and provided everything we needed to become self sufficient while letting much needed home renovations patiently wait.

I can remember no sooner than I graduated he finally remodeled moms house..... after us kids were taken care of.

It didn't stop there, once it was time to move out on my own I inquired about buying the 11acres that he had bought across the street. He wouldn't accept a penny and just signed it over so I could build a home. This property was bought only so my brother, sister and I would have more room to ride (motocross and 4 wheelers) so again putting us first like always.

I never wanted to move, my dad made this valley my paradise, every great memory I have is here along with the greatest man I ever met.

I'm glad I stayed and try to repay a dept that can never be repaid by doing whatever he needs. Even to this day he's helping all of us out whenever he can.

One of my biggest fears in life is loosing him!

 

[demonram]

I lost my best friend 15 years ago. I was a lucky guy, I had great parents. I remember being under a car at 5 years old ( 61 New Yorker ) holding the light, handing him tools, 8 years old helping build our garage. He gave me the love of working with my hands. My one hope when I became a father was to be even half the dad he was. I think he would be proud. My kids were fortunate enough to be with both mom and dad ( lost mom in 08 ). The memories they have are as special as mine. Thanks for sharing your memories and allowing me to share a few of mine.

 

[Richard Cranium]

 

[72Fourspeed]

Mine passed 19 years ago, 12-8-98. Many times I wished I could have gotten advice from him on many subjects. Life in general.

 

[Don selleck]

my dads been gone since 2001, mom just passed 3 years ago had a dream about 2 months ago, they both were in it. woke up with a smile on my face, love that when it happens, first dream like that since my mom died.

 

[FU64RY]

My dad died in 1967, 51 years ago and I still can't get over it.

 

[oldbee]

Kinda hard to type when you can’t see. Getting up close to 4yrs now. So many questions I should’ve asked.. Both of my parents always showed the right way to do everything. So I try to do the right thing for my kids & grandkids. Old poster and from somewhere(?) but I put his passing on it in the corner. He was another member of the ‘Greatest Generation’ and instilled love of country and doing your best everyday. NOW I really can’t see to type!

 

[WileE]

As a kid, I would like to play "army" . I had my helmet and my machine gun, and my dad let me have his army stripes and combat medals to play. My mom sewed his stripes on my shirt. I'd ask him about what he did while over there in the war ( he was in Austria in '44 after d-day ). He never would tell me.

 

[BeeKool]

I miss my maternal Grandfather.
He was a WW2 veteran and grew up during the Depression which of course made him resourceful. He drove Dodge trucks and Chrysler cars.
His last job before retiring was as a Custodian at the Local community college. He was in charge of the boys dorm. Every baseball, glove, bat, football ect that I ever had was because he brought it home. I was very greatful, he also brought books magazines and many other perfectly good items that were tossed in the trash home.
Colleges and Students are very wasteful, I can only imagine they've gotten worse.

 

[Bladecutter]

Dad died of a heart attack due complications of alcoholism, Christmas Eve 1978. Last time We saw each other I was in prison. I was out 3 months after He passed.
My Mother met a violent end September 10, 1969. Miss both every day still. Hard to stomach people who relegate their Parents to nursing homes.

 

[BDF6]

There are some great stories here. I regret your losses and appreciate the memories.
My father just turned 80...

 

[Car Nut]

Great story Steve, I remember getting Hotwheels.

 

[Xp29h]

Cool story! What dads won't do?

Over 30 years for me. My dad passed at 48! Still sucks!

 

[PlagueOfBadgers]

I love reading all of the memories everyone posting here. Gives you that warm feeling inside just reading them. My father passed some years ago don't know when, he walked out the door when I was 5, 1977, I remember it like it was yesterday. His walking out and never returning killed me inside but as I got older I became much stronger person and over time learned how to handle it. My mother was our back bone and support. She raised 4 kids on her own with no help for him. There is a good side to this for me and here it is.
I know what is like to not have a father around and that has given me the power to be a better one to my son. No matter what is going on I know what's important in life and tell him everyday how much I love him and how much he means to me. I get the same back from him and then some.

 

[1967coronet440]

My old man is still kicking, 65 now and can’t really imagine not having him here. He’s been grooming me to be the man I am today ever since I can remember, wrenching on his 1960 panhead since I was probaly 8ish years old. I remember him handing me the wrenches hardware and fishtail exhaust pipes and saying get these pipes put on, then he’d sit in his chair right behind me with his Budweiser and watch me struggle lol, took me forever but I cherish those memories. I can go on and on

 

[Grady Cain]

Steve - your story along with just about everyone else's responses got me thinking and inspired me. I unexpectedly had today off due to bad weather so I decided to call my 84 year old dad and go have lunch with him. He is still very active at his age but as we all know, none of us know how long we (or anyone else) has and I definitely don't see him or talk to him enough. Just wanted to thank all of you for your posts. Very good thread Steve - thanks again for it...

 

[steve from staten island]

Steve - your story along with just about everyone else's responses got me thinking and inspired me. I unexpectedly had today off due to bad weather so I decided to call my 84 year old dad and go have lunch with him. He is still very active at his age but as we all know, none of us know how long we (or anyone else) has and I definitely don't see him or talk to him enough. Just wanted to thank all of you for your posts. Very good thread Steve - thanks again for it...

Well Thank You for your reply. Im glad you liked it. For me however it was just a memory of a different time.

 

[SublimeSixpack]

The title of this post and shared stories reminded me of when I was a kid. I always tried to be home to greet my dad when he pulled into the driveway. I'd run out to meet him, and carry in his lunch pail for him.
Sometimes he'd bring me something home. Just small things. (At the time, he worked in a plant where they made wood moldings and trim, etc.) At times it would be a piece of wood with a knot or knot hole in it with a cartoon'ish face drawn around it with his pencil. Sometimes it was a pop bottle that I could turn in for 3 cents at the market. Sometimes nothing, but it didn't matter though because daddy was home!