May 17, Dad would have been 98. He missed it by 17 months.
He was a hard man, opinionated and dominant, but he loved his family in his own way. As kids we used to say, there were three ways of doing things: Dad's way, the Navy's way and the right way! He often drove Mama crazy with his insistance that he knew best; but he would tell anyone who would listen that his wife was the most beautiful woman in the world. My brothers had to toe a very hard line...especially the older one. I got by a little easier being a girl - feminism would never win him over - he was more demanding of the boys. Often said women should just tend to the cooking and laundry - his version of barefoot and pregnant! I was eager to grow up and leave home...and did.
I can think of many stories to tell - some good and some bad. Whatever else he was, Dad was interesting! We all inherited - to different degrees - his temper and his odd sense of humor. One brother has his sports ability, the other his writing skill. I have his memory and sense of direction. Our relationships with him were distant...and close...at different times of our lives.
As he got older, family assumed a more prominent place in his life and he worked harder at being a good Dad...and a good husband. He helped all of us as we needed it and always said as long as he was alive, we had no problems...and he had plans to live forever! He made it 96 years and 7 months...and lived independently for all but the last three months - though it was sometimes difficult during the last year or two to discern his stubborness from the senility of old age.
 |
| Mom and Dad ~ Nov.2008 ~ Just weeks before they died |
Wish I could tell you how much I love you and miss you, Dad.
