This week I was listening to a series on national Public Radio about "Father's" - of course because Father's Day is this weekend.
For most of them, Dad was already gone to the Great Beyond. And it was really moving to hear adults reminisce about some of the nice things they remembered
about their fathers.
The people on NPR were sharing their memories with the world. So, here I am offering up yet another -probably tangential to MIS - idea 
Sharing a good memory
about Dad - whether he is still with you or gone.
My own father was kind of removed. Not physically, but emotionally - I guess I would say he suppressed himself a lot. But, I can still vividly recall that when
I was small he would kiss me goodnight and say "Sleep with the Angels Sonny Boy." Recently, with him gone for for over 40 years, I was looking
through some old papers and found letters he had written to my mom when they lived apart - by necessity so he could work in the shipyards during WWII on the
West Coast . I discovered he was so deeply in love with her and such a soft-hearted, sentimental man. I probably would have really liked him, if I actually
knew him.
Well, I put mine out there. Let's see if this is interesting to others.
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Father's
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 jayzdreams |
Father's |
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Posts: 231 (06/20/09 06:49:59) |
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flow2susie |
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Posts: 2393 (06/20/09 07:47:11) |
I talk to my father every day.
I did a painting of him several years ago and it's one of the first and last things I see each day. One thing he said a few days before he died was "Gee whiz! Is that all there is?" It may sound cute, but he was very soft-spoken and this was like swearing for him. I was blessed to be with him and several family members as he died at 86, peacefully, fully dressed, sitting in his favorite chair in the living room. He was looking up, smiling, almost laughing and nodding his head. I said "What do you see, Daddy? Something funny?" The last word I remember him saying was "funny." 
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drrona |
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Posts: 14122 (06/20/09 07:50:06) Asst. Administrator |
My dad has learned to become himself as he's lived and treaded the roads of experience. He can be emotional/sensitive, and when in the moment, quite funny
and as amused and wide eyed as a giggling child. My dad accepts small requests from me to do silly thing things like posing with a goofy hat for a photo. My
dad still has the wide eyes of a child in different situations when he's in the moment. At social functions he enjoys dancing with little girls standing on
his feet and his smile reaches each of his ears. In business my dad is a great liaison. He loves sharing information and connecting people without ego heroism
and is genuinely a kind soul. I love my dad. Thanks for starting this thread Jay.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a
love letter to the world." Mother Teresa |
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 SimplyBill |
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Posts: 2797 (06/20/09 09:00:22) |
I am really unsure of how to respond in this thread,
lets say I've had a few dads in my life that werent related to me. Each however gave me tidbits of life information that I was paying attention to. My biological has been gone for 36 years. To all the rest who were there when I absolutely needed you most, thanks. My life lessons here are not to pass on my early beginings, but break the pattern. My sincerest wish is that if they are to remember anything is that they were loved by me. Happy Fathers/Dads day...
As long as there is an openness to ourselves and the universe we can fully be the evolved being we were always meant to be...
SimplyBill |
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KFN |
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Posts: 4380 (06/20/09 11:20:01) Moderator |
My dad died in 1994 just before his 75th birthday. He was a WWII veteran, and he worked as a sheet metal mechanic at American Airlines for almost 40 years.
He always saved some of the cookies in his metal lunch box to bring home to my brother & sister and I every afternoon at 4:00. He loved cherry pie, and
Mom still makes the best ones on earth. There were a couple of old family stories he would tell in way that made me laugh so hard the tears would roll down my
face and my cheeks would cramp. He is so very much a part of me still and always.
Rona, you made me think of this song Susie, I love that painting... how wonderful! Happy Father's Day Bill and Jay, and all the other dads here! 
karen |
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Posts: 3684 (06/20/09 11:27:41) |
susie your painting rocks!!!
Well I was lucky to have my dad as long as I did, he died when I was 28, but had a major heart attack when I was in gestation! His name was unusual as was he Prentice. A very loyal family man, from an interesting background. I will see if I can pull the info on his dad, My GF. He had a very dry humor that would knock you on your ass, with his whit and quick mind! My dad had his ways about him as we all do, but he gave me a good foundation as to what a good father, son and husband looks like. He is smiling at me now in the picture with my mom besides my PC. He always told me " the only thing better than being married is not being married" and... "the only thing better than having children is not having children" I always felt I could tell him anything, and he was cool with it! He always told me never to live my life for him...but for me...When I was older we'd bum a smoke from each other, I quite 22+ years ago, he tried to quit, but oh well... Also there is nothing worse than: X smokers, Drinker's and hookers 
I'd go on but you might get offended  
Anyway I loved my dad and still do..... |
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Posts: 3685 (06/20/09 11:29:35) |
Karen we crossed!!!
Love to all the Dad's and children big and small out there!!! .gif){kind=small}
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jayzdreams |
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Posts: 232 (06/20/09 11:47:52) |
Very cool stuff from everyone!
Awesome painting..really communicates essence. Bill's concept about remembering men, who although not biological Dads, but who have stepped up in our lives is beautiful. Tomorrow I will be, as usual, calling Louie, 89, from the Bronx. He is my oldest friend's Dad. My folks are both gone so I still call his parents, who were like my second family. Something lovely/unexpected has emerged as I read what you guys have written about your Dads.....Me as a Dad and what one of my daughters would be writing if she were on this thread. It would be really good. She's a young 23, and needs a lot of emotional support finding her way. I/we are totally there for her and she has expressed her appreciation in very moving ways. So, for at least 1 out of 2, I seem to be doing pretty well. The other one? Well, I love every bone in her body, but she is not accessible - long story. Happy Fathers Day all you guys. Hooah! |
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Posts: 3686 (06/20/09 11:55:59) |
to add:
My died died after my parents were married 41 yrs. My mom met and shared her place with a man for 10 yrs, I called him Papa Bill, he never felt like MY dad, but was a good man, and the only Papa Pamela new. Jake came along to late to meet any of them, but says he remembers Papa John when he was a baby. Also remembering my friend and neighbor, John who was also like a Papa to my daughter , my kids never new mine or my husbands dad, Matt's dad died when he was 16. So blessings to all the surrogate papa's we've been fortunate to know!
Last Edited By: ma data
06/20/09 11:59:42.
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omcasey |
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Posts: 8532 (06/20/09 12:08:08) |
Such a wonderful feeling in here -heartfelt thanks to everyone
I wish I still had a scanner that works, I have these 2 really great photos of my Dad, one on the boardwalk in Santa Barbara when his cancer was first being discovered, and another from the late 70's early 80's, New Year's, being really silly on the floor. A person might only appreciate that if they knew him. He has this wonderful, meaningful laugh, and a great sense of humor, but for the most part on the outside he is just sober as the day. Leave it to a judge, yeah?---I love you Dad! . . . |
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KFN |
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Posts: 4384 (06/20/09 12:58:54) Moderator |
I feel very blessed to have known both of my grandfathers and that my son knew both of his. Also, I loved my FIL who died in 2000. Funny, I've had many
"other mothers" in my life, but my dad was my one and only father. This is him and Mom.
Last Edited By: KFN
06/20/09 14:18:17.
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jayzdreams |
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Posts: 233 (06/20/09 13:41:19) |
You can tell all you need to know about the man in the photo by looking at the happiness and love in the woman's face.
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simpleyogini |
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Posts: 5524 (06/21/09 06:13:15) |
WOW susie what a beautiful painting...
and have enjoyed the stories.... I don;t have a pix of my Dad...that I can post..maybe I can find one to scan... he passed way back when he was 50 in the 70's...miss him....  sandy
We do not need to be the same, or think the same But we can hold hands as fellow travelers in this life. |
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Sri D |
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Posts: 12051 (06/21/09 07:33:57) Moderator |
Wow, what great pics and stories! So fun to read everyone's experiences....
My dad was a hoot and a half. Honestly, truly honestly, I can't remember ever having had a fight with my Dad. He was totally unique, and we hear a million and one stories over the years that our friends still love to remenisce about, involving his amusing antics. Dad liked to wear certain clothes on certain days of the week....Saturday's attire was the best. He either wore jodhpurs (he never rode a horse once in his life) with a red Ban-lon and his English riding boots (he hated shoelaces), or his Mr. Peanut jeans with a gold Ban-lon (still shod in the riding boots, which he wore daily, even with his business suits). His favorite drink was Root Beer Fizzies; he walked around the house late at night in his red silk bikini undies, totally blase about whoever had the audacity to be there later than 11:00; he rode his bike to work with the radio blaring, festooned with an American flag, a yachting flag, and a bright orange watch-out-for-Big Al-alert flag; on and on. He was my Al-Anon before I joined, saying such things, whenever I was stressed, as "throw it into neutral, kid" and "There are two important things in life - you're born and you die - all the rest is filler." No matter what I asked from him, in the way of a favor, the response was always..."Whatever you want, kid....it's spelled in 4 letters...L-O-V-E". And he did, very obviously and loudly, love his family. He also loved his country - running for several local and state offices, running the flag up the flag pole every day, etc. - and his church, doing the daily readings at the 6:00 a.m. Mass. Every Christmas Eve, he left our house at 11:00 p.m. sharp to go be the altar "boy" for the midnight Mass at the county jail for the inmates. One of my favorite memories is watching an old reel-to-reel with him, where the action was my Mom waddling along in the back yard, about 8 months pregnant with at least 7 little "ducklings" (us kids) trailing along behind her, and he got all misty-eyed and looked at me saying, "Isn't your Mother the most beautiful woman ever?" If someone incredulously quizzed him about having ten children, his response was always "What can I tell you? I love their mother!" And the all-time capper, which I know I've written about here before on the board, but it bears repeating... He had his will, with all the attending burial instructions (he was buried at sea) ready for years, completely filled out to the last detail. The very last line said..."My greatest accomplishment in life is that each one of my ten children thinks I loved him (her) best." 
You just gotta love that!
Happy Father's Day to all our dads, living or departed.
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ma data |
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Posts: 3688 (06/21/09 09:13:24) |
Now i have tears in my eyes!!!
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simpleyogini |
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Posts: 5525 (06/21/09 12:03:40) |
here is a pix of my mom and dad back in the 70's....
he moved on back mid 70's when I was 24.... my pop...well he was great....everyone liked him...he was outgoing...active...enjoyed life fully (guess I get alot of it from him) he flew a plane, had a speed boat and houseboat, golfed, traveled, enjoyed nights out dancing....cooking breakfasts for everyone afterwards and worked hard my mom and dad were great dancers....jitterbuggers.......people would circle around them while they danced....life of the parties...had charisma he was in the military back in the 40's working on planes so he became a sewing machine mechanic and his work (textiles) moved him to the south and in '68 he opened his own textile plant which we still run today... alcohol was is our fam....which I am not saying is a bad thing. my grandfather was an acoholic and beat my grandmother....so my dad put a stop to that...and became the head of the family over his 4 sisters and 1 bro. and like most fams we were not rich in money terms but happy....my dad worked hard....and wouldn;t drink till tea time...5 pm... people loved working for him...he was a great boss...never held a grudge...he would tell you what he wanted or thought and that was it...over and back to whatever as far as a dad....well he was so much fun! he always took us skating, sledding, he would fly me to charlotte for ice cream and then back home. we always had pets, dogs, rabbits, ducks...we would go swimming and to oyster roasts....always having parties...inviting people over...chug one more for the road he came from a very loving family....he was very very understanding....and there to help I still have that camera he has around his neck...(probably where I got my love of shooting pix from too) I have wondered what life would be like if he was still around. he surely was missed in the business....mainly because of his work ethnic... no sitting behind the desk for him...he was always out and working hard in the plant amongst all the workers. they respected him for that. he would be in his shorts and hushpuppies with an apron around him when the big city slickers came into town to talk bis or banking or whatever. just a down to earth fun wonderful cool guy. my mom remarried (to a really nice guy) about 5 years after he passed....and we still talk about what would it be like if he was still here... i must say even though he died young....he sure did alot with his time while he was here... but I miss not being able to "grow" up with him....to be able to share those moments of growing up and older to share all those years (30+) memories and ventures with him... but such is life... I was definitely a daddys girl.... the man in my moms life now....i don;t really think as a father...not in a mean way...he is wonderful and humble and caring....but I see him as a wonderful friend that I love... oh heck....pix will be in next post... (casey take a picture with your camera of your picture...then post it....that is what I did) my pop had a brain tumor...they opened his head up peeked inside...saw a mess and closed it back up. .cancer....we watched him fade away in 30 days. he would get lost on the sewing floor....so sad to see that. towards the end he didn;t want people to visit him....because he was like a child....no memory....no nothing...he wanted us to remember him as his fun active self. before he lost his "mind" he talked like he and mom were going to go traveling...and all was alright.. i sometimes wished that he would have died quickly....so we wouldnt have those memories of him in bed useless....messing the bed....but then thats how it goes... life isn;t how we think it should be.. sorry for being longwinded..and i had to come back and edit all my misspellings... sandy
We do not need to be the same, or think the same But we can hold hands as fellow travelers in this life.
Last Edited By: simpleyogini
06/21/09 13:17:28.
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simpleyogini |
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Posts: 5526 (06/21/09 12:07:45) |
dang it won't come up on here....the pix is in my images but when I click on the image icon....nothing comes up...
this is what I don;t like about yuku....they dont make it easy to post pix my mom and dad in the 70's sandy
We do not need to be the same, or think the same But we can hold hands as fellow travelers in this life.
Last Edited By: simpleyogini
06/21/09 12:10:18.
Edited 2 times.
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omcasey |
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Posts: 8538 (06/21/09 13:03:09) |
Good idea, Sandy, lemme try!
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drrona |
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Posts: 14136 (06/21/09 13:11:12) Asst. Administrator |
lovely great smiles full of glee and life
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a
love letter to the world." Mother Teresa |
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Sri D |
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Posts: 12059 (06/21/09 13:27:48) Moderator |
I see your dad in you, Sandy.
That was a wonderful read about him, and it sounds like he really enjoyed every day. I heard these words once at the funeral
of a dear friend's husband, who also died of a brain tumor...young, like your dad....and I think they apply to your father, as well....
"Some of us live life really well and graduate early." Sri
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drrona |
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Posts: 14138 (06/21/09 13:28:52) Asst. Administrator |
that is so beautiful
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a
love letter to the world." Mother Teresa |
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- Questions on using this board
- Introductions -- Why You Came to Yoga
- 2009 Live Gathering
- 2007 Live Gathering
- Questions for Erich
- Asana
- Amazing asana sequences
- Health and Yoga
- Breath of Life
- Meditation
- Remembering to Ask for Guidance
- Energy
- Classical Texts (Sutras, Gita, etc.)
- Yamas and Niyamas
- The Business of Yoga
- Teaching Questions
- Video, book, and audio recomendations
- Workshops and Training Opportunities
- MIS Goods & Services Exchange
- Technology
- Yoga Poetry
- Martial Arts, Gymnastics, Hypnosis, Contortionism, Body Building, & Other Related Disciplines
- Everyday Sacred
- Food & Recipes
- The Environment
- Socrates Bar and Grill
