I love this photograph of my father because it doesn't resemble the man I knew in any way shape or form.
The man I knew smoked only an occasional cigar and drank an occasional sherry or glass of wine, barbecued weekends, loved Chinese food and take out, and dressed like Don Draper every work day of his life because he was an ad man.
This photo was probably taken when he was in the USAF during WWII. The hair cut, the shirt, the hard-ass look. I thought this was Frankenstein the first time I found it in the drawer of his high boy dresser. I was probably 7 or 8 and it scared me to death. He had to reassure me it was just a photo taken when he was young and he was definitely not a monster!
Dad, circa mid-1940s
I remember my father is as a loving but stern, old-fashioned man with a very rigid set of principles. He was born in 1910, another era light years from the Sixties when I was coming of age. We did not see eye to eye. Yet, he instilled his faith in God, his work ethics, his frugality and his loyalty in my brother and me. We are the better for those things.
Me, Dad, Mother at Butchart Gardens British Columbia Summer 1969 Mother & I wear nosegays of violets from Dad
Dad loved an occasional cigar, a pancake breakfast with bacon on the side, a good walk, his dog(s), nature, God and country. He was never so proud as when his two grandsons were born. I think they were the light of his old age.
D
Dad, circa mid-1940s
I remember my father is as a loving but stern, old-fashioned man with a very rigid set of principles. He was born in 1910, another era light years from the Sixties when I was coming of age. We did not see eye to eye. Yet, he instilled his faith in God, his work ethics, his frugality and his loyalty in my brother and me. We are the better for those things.
Me, Dad, Mother at Butchart Gardens British Columbia Summer 1969 Mother & I wear nosegays of violets from Dad
Dad loved an occasional cigar, a pancake breakfast with bacon on the side, a good walk, his dog(s), nature, God and country. He was never so proud as when his two grandsons were born. I think they were the light of his old age.
D
Dad & Grandsons 2005 (age 95)
He was nutrition and supplement minded before it was fashionable. He read the Rodale books and followed a predominantly naturopathic road when I was young. I remember him ingesting Tiger's Milk, fish oil, B supplements, high fibre food, whole grains, raw honey. He walked that walk. He lived into his late 90s and was still mobile.
Dad presenting retirement document to a retiring Colonel Vandenburg AFB, 2004
For those of you old enough to remember, "My Dad" sung by Paul Petersen on The Donna Reed Show
9 comments:
i remember this one from the last time...thought that does not take away from it or him...smiles....
happy fathers day to all the dads in your life....
Worth a repeat, right down to the Paul Petersen tune.
I'm glad you have good memories of your father.
Love,
Janie
A really wonderful story about a very wonderful man. Thank you for introducing me to him. May he rest in peace, he had a great and long life. :-)
I love this post! Happy Father's Day!!
your dad certainly was a handsome and wonderful man!
what a sweet post filled with precious memories of him.
loved the photos, too.
happy belated father's day.
:)
Even when we don't see eye to eye with our Dad's, they mark our lives. Beautiful tribute, CG. blessings ~ tanna
Hello ! C.G...
I was checking-out links on my Tin-Tin and Snowyblog and...eyed your post and hopped right over [wrong holiday]...I too remember the photograph Of your father and his grandsons.
However, I think this is my first-time reading the post...I like...a warm, heart-felt, remembrance Of your parents.[Father]
[Happy Belated Father Day !]
Tks, for sharing !
deedee :)
A great tribute to your dad! He sounds like a good guy.
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