And that I don't believe he ever missed a one of my truly important celebrations or proud moments and was proud as well.
I just feel sad that I was never able to get to know him better. There was just a problem connecting. Of course we got closer as I got older and our ages merged slightly and for the last several years of his life I actually had a chance to spend quite a bit of time with him. He also got to meet my children and he loved them too.
My dad passed away of cancer in August of 1994, on my younger sister's birthday.
There are just SO many things about my dad that I will never, ever know yet I believe there must have been so many wonderful facets to him that were way beyond my perception at the time. For one, that he really wanted to love and commit to something.. but he just didn't know how. And I also believe that he knew who he was and wanted in his heart of hearts to be able to share. But I know that he had a tough childhood... way tougher than mine could have ever imagined being (and which was overall extremely blessed.) So I'm going to give him that. And also a high five for effort.
My mom recently shared with me a whole bunch of pictures of him though. And I just love having them!
Here he is on a pony as a kid.
High School Graduation.
College Graduation from USC in Business Administration.
Once a drummer in a dance band!
He enlisted in the Navy at age 19 and served as a radio man on an aircraft carrier during World War II.
And this is where my history gets all messed up... World War II or Korean War, I have no idea... but I just really love these next few pictures!
On a ship somewhere...
On a rickshaw...
Relaxing with a friend...
Outside a Naval Hospital in Yakasuka...
Caught writing a letter to mom...
He always loved that camera!
Anyway... I think my dad was an extremely handsome and genuine man. I can completely understand why my mother was so taken by him. And I want to believe they (and we) had at least a couple of really good years together.
Our first family pic...
Visiting the Grand Canyon...
Sailing with his girls...
In 1984, after a long period of seperation and a finally a divorce, my dad eventually married Peggy Jeffries who was a wonderful woman and I feel a really good match for him. And I believe he was able to find some comfort and comaraderie during those last ten years of his life.
I'm just so happy he was able to stick around long enough to meet his grandchildren.
Regrets? Well, there are more than many. But one of them is that I don't think I even have a picture of just me and my dad... together... all alone.
Wait! I just found one...
And yet still another blog about dads...
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