Your Dad

[Eric 26]

@slonezp I too wore “Roebucks” until my grandmother “caught” me trying to sew a Levi’s label on them, I’m pretty positive that was my 7th-8th grade transition. Im not sure what shoes you wore but for me it was Skips which were a Venture/K-Mart staple. We weren’t poor but we certainly weren’t rich either and my dad who’s 82 and still with us always did what he had to do to take care of me and my 3 siblings. 

[Woody B]

5 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

I too wore “Roebucks”

Y'all wore Roebucks?   JC Penny plain pockets for me when I was a kid.  

[clayton86]

Where do I start with my dad. I would do anything to have him back or go back in time to see him again. I have a lot of memories and regrets I suppose could say when it comes to my dad. 

 

Growing up I spent every other weekend with him we would either fish, build model cars or planes, rockets and in summer go to air shows. He always said that he was soaking it all up because he knew once I turned 16 and could drive I wouldn’t come around anymore. I’m sure I denied it but he was 100% correct. Once I got my license I went from seeing him every other weekend to once or twice every few months and on holidays. 
 

He spent the last 20 years though battling heart disease/failure on top of diabetes that cost him both his legs first one 15 years ago I think it was second one in 2020 when the whole thing was kicking off. Had his first heart attack in his late 30s early 40s I believe which took him out of work for the rest of his life as a trucker. He passed last July from heart failure after spending 12 weeks in various hospitals at age 62. 
 

My dad never raised his voice or yelled at me but I was always good when I was with him. Worse he ever did was tell me he was disappointed in me once when I did something and that hit me harder than anything. 
 

I definitely got my love of fishing from him though, stories of him taking me fishing in the creek behind the house when I was still in a stroller and putting a snoopy pole in the stroller with me. Have a bunch of Polaroids of him and his buddy from the airforce holding up trout they got. He was more into trout and pike though. 

[volzfan59]

My pop's was a very old school, WW2 veteran. Born in 1918, into a coal mining and farming family. He believed in hard work and discipline. He supported his family and provided everything we needed, not always what we wanted. I don't remember him ever telling me or my sister's that he loved us or showed any physical love (hugs, kisses) but he he showed it every day in other ways. That's probably the only thing I would change. Due to that, I tell my kid's that I love them, hug and kiss their cheeks as often as possible.

 

He taught me a lot about construction, plumbing, electric and how to work on old cars/trucks. Taught me to avoid debt at all costs. Thanks to him, I have a work ethic second to none, didn't have a choice. U. S. Army basic training wasn't anything compared to working for my pop's. He introduced me to fishing and stock car racing, two things that I have loved my entire life. He didn't enjoy watching me when I was racing, made him nervous.

 

My mom and pop went to live with our Lord and Savior years ago. I miss them both terribly, everyday. I'll see them again one day.

 

[jbmaine]

My dad's been gone 12 years on Sept 8, like many he served in WW2 and was my hero. He taught me to fish, shoot, hunt, swim, waterski, and so many more things. His last gift to me was when he was in hospice. He stayed with us until seven AM Sept. 8 2011. He hung on until the day after my birthday so his passing would not be my forever birthday memory.

 Here's a picture of him and me taken around 1957.

[slonezp]

9 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@slonezp I too wore “Roebucks” until my grandmother “caught” me trying to sew a Levi’s label on them, I’m pretty positive that was my 7th-8th grade transition. Im not sure what shoes you wore but for me it was Skips which were a Venture/K-Mart staple. We weren’t poor but we certainly weren’t rich either and my dad who’s 82 and still with us always did what he had to do to take care of me and my 3 siblings. 

Google "booger shoes". They call them gum soles today but I always called them booger shoes. I think GASS or Thom McAn made/sold them back in the 70's

[JackstrawIII]

I still don’t think I understand all that my father gave to me and my siblings. He has spent his entire adult life suffering with severe environmental and food allergies. He suffers almost constantly, even now into his mid 60s.
 

As such, there are many things I have never been able to do with my dad, like fishing, for example. 

 

But, every morning when I woke up as a kid, my dad would be sitting in his recliner reading his Bible. His faith and consistency over the years helped set me on the path I’m on now, and for that I am very grateful. 

[slonezp]

4 minutes ago, JackstrawIII said:

I still don’t think I understand all that my father gave to me and my siblings. He has spent his entire adult life suffering with severe environmental and food allergies. He suffers almost constantly, even now into his mid 60s.
 

As such, there are many things I have never been able to do with my dad, like fishing, for example. 

 

But, every morning when I woke up as a kid, my dad would be sitting in his recliner reading his Bible. His faith and consistency over the years helped set me on the path I’m on now, and for that I am very grateful. 

He gave you life. He gave you direction.

 

I have a grandson who is 6yo. Never knew his father. POS is dead from fentanyl/heroin over 3 years now. 

 

I didn't sign up to be a dad in my mid 50's. I only hope I can have a little influence on him that he doesn't turn out like his.....  

[gim]

On 9/15/2023 at 9:55 PM, slonezp said:

I have a grandson who is 6yo. Never knew his father. POS is dead from fentanyl/heroin over 3 years now.

That’s unfortunate. I always wondered what happened there. You have stated multiple times before that he was father-less but were never specific about it.

[813basstard]

I’ve never seen my old man use a tool..a wrench, hammer or screwdriver. He’s a hell of a football coach tho and he snuck a 12 pack of Heineken into the delivery room of my first born son. 
So I got that going for me…which is nice

 

He’d also listen to Richard Pryor on tape on the the way to school in the morning when I was a kid and that was when I found out you’d better laugh at this thing while you get a chance 

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

That’s unfortunate. I always wondered what happened there. You have stated multiple times before that he was father-less but were never specific about it.

The kid will get thru it. Better he died before the kid got to know what a piece of garbage he was.  Kid's got myself and my daughters biological father as strong male influences. We're both successful tradesmen and both outdoorsmen. Grandson might have seen his father a dozen times in 3 years. Guy did a lot of emotional damage to my daughter. That's a whole 'nother story. 

[thediscochef]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

The kid will get thru it. Better he died before the kid got to know what a piece of garbage he was.  Kid's got myself and my daughters biological father as strong male influences. We're both successful tradesmen and both outdoorsmen. Grandson might have seen his father a dozen times in 3 years. Guy did a lot of emotional damage to my daughter. That's a whole 'nother story. 

I have too many classmates who ended up living, and dying, a similar way. Lost another one about three weeks ago. Devastating things come to and from the broken pieces of us that search for vice. We all carry forward parts of our past whether we like it, try to, or not. Bless you for what you chose to do

My dad passed in January of '21, I was 29. He was 65. We had a complicated relationship, at times very strained but at other times very close. I am lucky and unbelievably privileged in many senses, but there will always be a part of me that wishes he (and by extension, I) could have had more emotional stability in the house. Dad sometimes had the shortest temper you could imagine and would go on unbelievable tirades directed mostly at me, but at other times could also be the funniest and smartest guy around. He had some hidden talents like I do, and was an awarded E.R. physician. We didn't see him a whole lot for most of my schooling years just due to work and some other things. I saw more of the world before the age of 10 than most americans will in a lifetime thanks to his love of medical missions, and was able to develop many hobbies and loves in life thanks to his hard work. I miss the good times terribly.

I always wonder if he did as well on Roberts as I have, and if he ever caught a double digit. The people who would know best are also passed on at this point. I have no idea what his PB was. I can remember going with him once and I think it was a frustrating experience for him. We used a guide from then on, I learned early that a good guide is worth every penny and then some. Going through his old tackle was educational, there are some old plastics I wish I had saved. He was using Black Grape stuff back then too, in some shapes that aren't made anymore. He had a ton of a-frames, curly tails, swimbaits, and rat-l-traps. We have a similar style from what I can tell, and many of my initially successful color choices came from what I saw in that tackle box. He may not have taught me much about black bassing in life, but his choices in the box did. I like to think he would be proud of the things I've done on the bank by myself but that was never really an option

[flatcreek]

He was a good man, strict but kind in manner.WW2 USMC Platoon Sergeant served combat duty on The Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Woodlark Island,New Gienue and Okinawa Shimu.Bronze Star receipient. He loved God and country.Great family man and a natural born leader.He finished that tour of duty and went back in Korean War but was discharged medically and honorable then returned to Georgia and went to college on G.I. Bill got a degree in Pharmacy and had his hometown Drugstore until his death in 1991.He fished on his off days while his friends golfed.He got me fishing as soon as I could hold a pole and took me anytime he could. He taught me the good things in life, right from wrong and what it meant to serve our country.

[DaubsNU1]

My Dad was the last of five kids…all his older siblings were sisters…he was 10 years younger than the next closest (oops). Graduated nigh school in 1959. Worked hard all his life, starting as a painter, then becoming a carpenter. In those days they built houses from the ground up…so he knows how to lay out a foundation, pour a foundation, lay block, frame, electrical, plumbing, etc. In 1962 the building crew split up and Dad specialized with interior trim…basically anything “wood” you see in a house. Kitchens, bathrooms, base, doors, trim, etc. That was the year he stared his own business. 

 

I remember him as tough, quiet, and never complaining. Loved to duck hunt and could really make that duck call sing. Took brother and me fishing and hunting a lot. Loved my mom dearly! Great family man, always there to help when family needed assistance…I remember him remodeling kitchens for his sisters and brother in law’s. 

 

Was great with cars, and still has his pride and joy, a 1962 Chevy Impala 2 door hard top. It has 80k miles on the odometer. Taught me and my brother a lot about cars and trucks.

 

I talk to him several times a week, text as well. He’s pretty good with technology at 82 years old. Oh, I do have to fix his phone now and then, but overall pretty savvy. Brother and I take him fishing when we can…he’s had several rotator cuff surgeries, and a shoulder replacement…so casting is not an option. We bottom bounce for walleye…he loves it!

 

He is tough as nails and never complains…few months back he was walking up 6 stairs from living room to kitchen…lost balance and fell backwards. Picked himself up, got to kitchen to put dishes away…then walked up 12 more stairs to bed….that was 10:30 PM. @ 2:30 PM got up to pee and could not get out of bed…called me…a trip to the ER discovered he had broken five ribs, and broke vertebrae in his back(!!!!). Spent some days in the hospital for that one. 

 

Mom passed away 10 years ago…so grateful Dad is still with us! 

[Columbia Craw]

That’s my Dad in the middle. That picture pretty much says all that I can tell you.

[Bird]

Oh, didn't see this thread. ?

My dad was 21 years military and was in 3 wars, purple hearts.

We had crew cuts growing up and had to ask to be excused from the dinner table each night.

He was off to himself mostly, I get that.

[Bankbeater]

My dad was born in NE Arkansas at the start of the great depression.  He passed away in 2014 at the age of 83.  He grew up dirt poor out in the country where everyone knew each other and helped each other out.  He never met a stranger that he did not consider a friend, which I learned isn't always a good thing.

He taught me how to fish, hunt, and get along in the great outdoors, but we always seemed to do more fishing.  I am grateful that he passed that love of fishing on to me.