Thread: Things Dad taught you.......

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I still have that radiator hose, except now you are bigger than me.

Don

In the past, taking dad to Sacramento for doctor's appointments was about all the driving he could take in a day, about 60 miles. I was surprised this morning when he asked "are we still on for Yosemite"? Since getting the V, he has been able to cover more ground, Tahoe, Reno, North Shore, Hwy 88, but Yosemite is 140 miles one way on very windy roads. Well today, not only Yosemite was no problem, he asked if we could go home via Tioga Pass at 9462' then on to 395 and Nevada, then 88 W to 89 N and on to 50 westbound. I asked if he was sure about this and told him how long that will take, he said "lets do it". We were in the car today from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM. I guess he is good for any drive now. The V was the right car for me to drive and him to ride.

Things I learned from my dad were an appreciation for Italian sports cars, food, and the art of cooking it, and the general reward for trying to do things yourself. My Dad wasn't really there for us, but I learned to drink in moderation(he was an alcoholic) and to not smoke like Don said earlier(Dad lost his vocal chords to cancer).
I hope I learned to be a good person, since my Dad didn't really share that attribute. I guess even non stellar Dads teach us good things, even thru bad example. Fortunately for me I had 4 excellent Uncles, who I basically grew up with as role models, all great guys in their own right, and for that I feel very fortunate.

Work hard & listen to your Mom.

He told all 3 of us kids that ....one at a time..... just before he died of cancer. 1965.

I guess, from reading some of the posts, that some Dad's made some mistakes. Same could be said of some Moms. But every generation makes it's own mistakes, all of us look back on our upbringing and realize our Parents were just people. I can look back on my own Mom and Dad and recall some things that could have been different. My own Sons remind me of some dumb things I did (especially Don, he has a memory like my ex wife) and frankly, I feel pretty bad about some of those things. At the time they seemed appropriate and right, but in hindsight, maybe not so smart. Can't change the past, can we?

The ony saving grace is that our kids will make their own mistakes raising their kids, and some day they will be reminded of those little screwups too.

Don

Like I said, my dad had is issues and I attempted to break the trend the best that I could. You have to understand that our fathers and grandfathers grew up in a different time. My family, being from a German decent, had a strike against us from the start as far as tempers go. I guess that I can’t blame my dad for what he did or didn’t do. He tried his best and that is all that you can ask from anyone. I will never forget it though.

I think I had the best Dad in the world,thought me to be self sufficent. We used to work on cars together starting when I was about 11 or 12,never once did he crititize me,always there when I needed him. He was a bicycle/motorcycle mechanic all his life,had his own shop in the 30's and 40's,and owned 13 Harley D's at one time.
When MVR took his drivers license in '85 due to loss of eyesight, I made him a promise to take him for daily drives,and that i did until he passed away in 09, at the ripe age of 92. Never one to actually say "I love you",you knew he did,although the night before he did pass away,I hugged him and he told me so, ..........ya, i miss him a lot.

What my Dad taught me. I guess he led by example. Never talked that much about things, that was my step Mom's job. He made sure we were respectful. Also, clean up after myself, as he wasn't about to. If he did, trouble was coming my way. One thing he couldn't tolerate is lying. OMG. He never really said it but, if it's worth doing, it's worth doug right. My Dad is a good man who worked hard to support his family. For that I'm grateful. I am fortunate to be able to talk to him on occasion and see him once a year for out yearly vacation. I do miss not seeing him, we would be best buds if we lived close by, as hot rods are our connection.

Keith

Oldmanb,

That is a great story.

Jack.

I guess I should explain and clarify, that my Dad and mom were divorced when I was about 2 years old. This was a trend he would do for all 6 of his known marraiges. Once my Dad moved on, his participation in our lives was about 2 times a year when he wasn't in another relationship. He provided no child support or financial support what so ever to us or my mom. My mom never said a bad thing about him, not wanting to jade us against him. As a kid we did go fishing a few times with him, and later work on some cool italian imports for him, but in general, he was never around, didn't keep in touch, unless he was lonely. He did do some cool things in his life, like build his own home, and make award wining wine. With individuals like him I think they are so wrapped up in themselves, that they are incapable of caring for others. It was who he was, no more no less. I didn't hate him, or really care for him, as he wasn't part of our lives. My Mom, Aunts and Uncles picked up the slack, taught us how to work hard, play hard and respect one and another. I feel fortunate for my childhood in that the bad times were few, and we had a great mom who loved us, as well as relatives who enjoyed doing things a dad would with his kids. I didn't mean to bag on Dads, with my earlier post. I had some great Dads (my Uncles) as a kid, and love the time we spent, and still spend together. When I read about the father /son projects here I always smile and think what a lucky family. No parent is perfect, we all make mistakes, and I'm, not here to critisize, just enjoy the comraderie and share the stories.

Steve, did you notice the computer added a second word "Dad" to the first word of the second line? It's doing it to you now !

Don

Don that is funny!

I was starting to question my sanity, thinking I was the only one it was doing it to.

Don

Well he let me learn on my own watching over me so I didn't get hurt.

if it stinks... don't eat it..