Sunday, June 15, 2014

Posted by Jon Dalton On 12:58 PM
I've been blowing hot and cold for the past few days about writing this particular blog post. You see, even though I'm a father and step-father, my own father has been gone for the majority of my adult life, 36 years now. And for the first time that I can remember, I'm really missing him this Father's Day.

My dad passed away from cancer when I was 28 in 1978. He was young, I believe (blame a faulty memory) only 48 years old. I remember we got the diagnosis in October 1977; by March, he was gone.

From the time I was 18 and going forward, we had little interaction. I was away at school, then marriage and my own sons followed. I do remember the joy he had at seeing his grandsons. So, my real, now vague, memories of him are during those first 18 years of my life.

My dad was the best, yes, a strict parent, but also tolerant. He provided for us, took care of us and managed to see me and my two sisters through all the activities we engaged in. I remember his misgivings when I told him I was going to law school, but how proud he was when I graduated. In high school, during football season, my sister and I (we were both in the marching band) would find him waiting patiently in our Rambler station wagon for us to return from the away games, no matter how late it was.

He was a great dad and I still love him deeply and wish he hadn't left us so soon. Happy Father's Day, Dad.

1 comment:

  1. I know this is late but here goes. Sorry for your loss. I lost my Dad before Marriage and babies and all the good stuff...he did see me graduate college and for that I am glad. I lost my dad when I was 24, he was 54. My fondest memory---he would come home from work, around 07:30 hrs and he would hide two cherry cordials in his coat pocket, his coat had a GREAT many pockets, or so it seemed to me at the age of 7! One Cherry Cordial for each of us...we would rummage thru his pockets until the candies were found and he would then say "sweets for the sweets". He smelled of Old Spice and Cherry pipe tobacco. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete