What you bring me today daddy

[steve from staten island]

My other thread got me thinking about my father. He's gone almost 13 years now. He was 83 when he passed. Im almost 66 so yes i think about him and i do the math
This is kind of melancholy so maybe some will appreciate it and why it entered my head i dont know
I was born in 52, my parents lived in a little apartment they rented from my dads cousin. Part of the deal i think was they maintained the coal furnace or maybe everybody did, but i do recall my mother with a big fat belly shoveling coal into that furnace. The belly was my brother
My dad was a garbage man for the city, back then they didn't make much and he supplement'ed his income by delivering newspapers on Sunday and other little jobs
Often during the week he'd bring me home some little toy. I was very young. The toys were never in a box but it was always a little something. I was a small child i didn't understand. One day he told me he had something, but i noticed he was washing it in the sink. He dried it and gave it to me. I always wondered why he would wash that toy. It was only when i got older did i realize these were toys that were thrown out into the garbage and my dad would see them and take them home and give them to me to play with.
It still to this day even as i type this hits me in my heart, almost a tear. I hope you liked this as it was kind of personal but i wanted to share it. Thanks

 

[Racefish]

My other thread got me thinking about my father. He's gone almost 13 years now. He was 83 when he passed. Im almost 66 so yes i think about him and i do the math
This is kind of melancholy so maybe some will appreciate it and why it entered my head i dont know
I was born in 52, my parents lived in a little apartment they rented from my dads cousin. Part of the deal i think was they maintained the coal furnace or maybe everybody did, but i do recall my mother with a big fat belly shoveling coal into that furnace. The belly was my brother
My dad was a garbage man for the city, back then they didn't make much and he supplement'ed his income by delivering newspapers on Sunday and other little jobs
Often during the week he'd bring me home some little toy. I was very young. The toys were never in a box but it was always a little something. I was a small child i didn't understand. One day he told me he had something, but i noticed he was washing it in the sink. He dried it and gave it to me. I always wondered why he would wash that toy. It was only when i got older did i realize these were toys that were thrown out into the garbage and my dad would see them and take them home and give them to me to play with.
It still to this day even as i type this hits me in my heart, almost a tear. I hope you liked this as it was kind of personal but i wanted to share it. Thanks

I miss mine too. 18 years

 

[65-440]

Great story Steve. It's the most meaningful memories that remain, nobody can take those away from you. Sit back, close your eyes and remember the good times !

 

[chryslerfat]

I miss mine also. As you I understand after growing up wearing my cousins hand me downs and once in a great while when he sold grain at a good price I got something new. I farm today and think of our times together doing the same things.

 

[Richard Cranium]

My dad's been gone 10 years this July. Time goes by so quickly, but you never forget.

 

[Grady Cain]

Awesome story Steve. Shows how much your dad loved you and would do anything to make you smile...

 

[ws23jrt]

It's a blessing that some of these very old memories can come back as clear as if they happened just yesterday.
My mom had a hand-held bell (clang clang) that she would ring out the back door to call all of us kids in from the neighborhood for lunch and dinner. It could be heard for blocks. That particular bell sound is rare and unique for me but when I hear it I feel sights and smells that are 60 years old but still fresh.

 

[alsant]

A nice memory to live with !!

 

[MOPARENT]

My dad was a liberal...we didn't get along. My sons are voting conservatives, we get along great!

 

[Brandy]

Lost mine in 2011. Miss him a lot.

 

[RoadRunner1970]

lost mine 3 years ago, he took me to buy my first Roadrunner. I miss him more all the time...

 

[BDF6]

Thank you for sharing that memory with us Steve.
Very touching...

 

[beanhead]

Thanks steve..often we never know or appreciate the emotional places our parents were at, until we're older and/or have kids of our own..

 

[moparedtn]

Seven years last Christmas morning.
Still not able to hold much of a conversation about him without, well...

 

[snakeoil24]

My dad died 8 years ago. I would give anything for 5 minutes to talk with him now. Steve I am warmed all over about your dad.

 

[64BEL]

Thanks, Steve. Nice story.
My Dad will have been gone for 24 years this coming June. Next year my oldest brother will be the same age our Dad was when he died (67).

 

[snakeoil24]

My other thread got me thinking about my father. He's gone almost 13 years now. He was 83 when he passed. Im almost 66 so yes i think about him and i do the math
This is kind of melancholy so maybe some will appreciate it and why it entered my head i dont know
I was born in 52, my parents lived in a little apartment they rented from my dads cousin. Part of the deal i think was they maintained the coal furnace or maybe everybody did, but i do recall my mother with a big fat belly shoveling coal into that furnace. The belly was my brother
My dad was a garbage man for the city, back then they didn't make much and he supplement'ed his income by delivering newspapers on Sunday and other little jobs
Often during the week he'd bring me home some little toy. I was very young. The toys were never in a box but it was always a little something. I was a small child i didn't understand. One day he told me he had something, but i noticed he was washing it in the sink. He dried it and gave it to me. I always wondered why he would wash that toy. It was only when i got older did i realize these were toys that were thrown out into the garbage and my dad would see them and take them home and give them to me to play with.
It still to this day even as i type this hits me in my heart, almost a tear. I hope you liked this as it was kind of personal but i wanted to share it. Thanks

Steve, you made my day. I thank God for what I have. I have nothing to complain about. I have my health, my kids are ok and my grand child is growing nicely. I am fortunate to live in the greatest Country in The world.

 

[Riverdawg]

Great story Steve. I got my love of Mopar's from him and some unrealised musical talent, but I was too young to know what to do with it. He worked a lot, played in a band. A talented musician. Wasn't great at being a dad. But I still loved him. He passed away August 2010.

 

[pushrod]

Thanks for sharing Steve. My Dad died without me ever being able to straighten out our differences and I regret that. It made me realize you need to let those you love know that every day. You never know when it will be the last time you see them.

 

[Bill Monk]

Dad died January 27, 2017, been almost a year and yeah I miss him. He was 81