Happy Father's Day, share your memories

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU DADS (you know who you are). I have fond memories of my father who died several years ago and since I cannot say it to him, I'll pass it on to you.

Share your memories of your father, good, bad or indifferent. I would love to hear your stories.

My own father made me what I am today, he taught me to think about things in a different way. He introduced me to the night sky and the wonders of the stars, tried to get the idea of infinity (space, how can it go on forever? Doesn't it have to have and end, if there is an end, what is beyond it) my childhood was filled with magic. He was a magician (really) and I got to be his guinea pig when he built his illusions. Got cut in half, my legs, hands and head cut off, swords stuck through my head. He wrote many books on magic starting when he was 14. He was an artist and a true english gentleman. He ended up being one of the grand old men of magic. He was born in 1908 and died in 1993. I miss him.

Teach your children well....

, ​

 

This is Truly my first memory, Grendel...

My mother was in the hospital after having given birth to my baby brother. Grandma was fixing scrambled eggs at the stove and turned to me and said; "Well little girl, now that your mommy has a new baby, she won't love you anymore." didn't make much sense to me until years later.

But it was the Forth of July, and everyone, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandma and Grandpa were all excited about the "Fireworks Display" we were all going to see at the park that night. I guess I was excited too, although I had no idea what they were talking about.

Day turns into evening, and we make our way to the Park. Now, my dad was severely crippled at age 2 by polio, rather deformed by normal body standards, so our progress was slow in getting to the bleachers. (We used to play camel instead of horsey, because of his pronounced kyphosis.) And as full night set in and the first fireworks went off... I totally lost it. I mean I was Freaking Out like a three year old child has the right to do. (He once took me to see "Alice in Wonderland" on the big screen... I freaked out and was unconsolable when Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum made their entrance)

My Dad, bless his soul, in a very kind and understanding manner, took me all the way out of the Park and back home to safer territory.

When we got home and he calmed me down, he decided that he still wanted to watch the fireworks. So we went upstairs and climbed out my bedroom window onto the front porch roof. From there we could see the fireworks a way over in the Park...

But, looking to your left, and on the corner of Liberty Street and 3rd Street was the Colored People's church. A ramshackle little gray building with a very small doorway, and on this July evening that door was opened. The whole congregation was having a rousing good time... (The Gospel songs of that evening have more than likely influenced my tastes in music) My Dad had his arm around my shoulder there on the roof, and I don't think that I have ever felt the sense of peace that I felt sitting with him up on that roof since.

I went back to Plainfield, NJ with Kenny quite a few years back. Not only was our old house Not there, but the whole street was gone too. Urban development I guess.

Thank You for letting me share this story. I hold it close to my heart to this day. Happy Father's Day, Dad... Wherever you are.

I Still Love You, Pop.
Your Daughter, Marsha

 

well this fathers day blew the rest out of the water. he was crying and shouting alot because of the sheer emotional and physical pain he is in. i came home and cryed myself to sleep.

 

Man, there are so many memories I have of my father who is still and always will be my best friend. I remember in kindergarden, he rode my brother's little green bicycle to the school to pick me up. It was one of those kiddie bikes. Anyways,he put me on the handlesbars and took me home. I felt like I had the kewlest Dad in the world. Still think I do. Another memories that holds dear is early in the morning just when it was getting day break he would wake me up.We'd quietly go downstairs grab a piece of toast and head out the door to go crabbing. Man, those were the days.