I'm blessed because my dad is living. I'm equally blessed because I'm getting to teach him how to use his new iMac! (Now I know how those poor phone support folks feel! *LOL*) Actually, I enjoy it - though I do have moments of frustration. But, that's life. Right? Better to be frustrated than not, eh?
Dad grew up in poverty - I would describe it as "abject," and I suppose he would too, were he pressed. (He remembers the date when electricity came to his family's house in Lamar county.) But for many folks of his era (1932) born in rural Alabama, that's not an uncommon experience. When one hears about "everything but the squeal," you know that you know what they're talkin' about!
He escaped poverty by graduating high school, and with his fathers' blessing, serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and then using the G.I. Bill immediately afterwards, matriculated Auburn (then Alabama Polytechnic Institute, or API) where he earned his B.S., met Mama and married her after she earned her B.S.
I suppose that our perspectives change as we mature, and I confess that I'm now more interested in his early years than I was when I was growing up.
You know, it's amazing how wise and smart Dad is the older I become!
No one knows how many years their life or others' may have, and I know the years of his are coming to a close, which is in part why I wish that I could in some way chronicle his life, or assist him in so doing.
"Hard scrabble" is how some describe it. And in a very great sense, they're right. I believe the human spirit is indomitable, and given the proper circumstances continues to exhibit that greatness.
Doubtless, I've "inherited" some of Dad's character qualities, such as respect for human life, compassion for the downtrodden, a sense of justice and "fair play," work ethic, honesty, curiosity and a determined spirit.
Others however, have not been so fortunate; and I can't help but wonder if, in our society and culture, we were to honor and dignify men whom accentuate and exemplify such high character qualities if our communities, nation and state might change for the better.
Nice thoughts Tim. Those of us who've lost our fathers can't help but think of them on this day.. the good, the bad and the ugly. My Dad passed away in 1982 and it was only in the last years of his life did we come even close to a father-son relationship. He spent the growing up years, if you will, of my life chasing his ghosts from Pearl Harbor through a bottle of whatever he could get his hands on. He must have finally succeeded as he one day put the bottle down and started being the father he never was. That was a good thing. So, how are you doing Tim? BTW: Keep doing the vlogs!
I'm blessed because my dad is living. I'm equally blessed because I'm getting to teach him how to use his new iMac! (Now I know how those poor phone support folks feel! *LOL*) Actually, I enjoy it - though I do have moments of frustration. But, that's life. Right? Better to be frustrated than not, eh?
ReplyDeleteDad grew up in poverty - I would describe it as "abject," and I suppose he would too, were he pressed. (He remembers the date when electricity came to his family's house in Lamar county.) But for many folks of his era (1932) born in rural Alabama, that's not an uncommon experience. When one hears about "everything but the squeal," you know that you know what they're talkin' about!
He escaped poverty by graduating high school, and with his fathers' blessing, serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and then using the G.I. Bill immediately afterwards, matriculated Auburn (then Alabama Polytechnic Institute, or API) where he earned his B.S., met Mama and married her after she earned her B.S.
I suppose that our perspectives change as we mature, and I confess that I'm now more interested in his early years than I was when I was growing up.
You know, it's amazing how wise and smart Dad is the older I become!
No one knows how many years their life or others' may have, and I know the years of his are coming to a close, which is in part why I wish that I could in some way chronicle his life, or assist him in so doing.
"Hard scrabble" is how some describe it. And in a very great sense, they're right. I believe the human spirit is indomitable, and given the proper circumstances continues to exhibit that greatness.
Doubtless, I've "inherited" some of Dad's character qualities, such as respect for human life, compassion for the downtrodden, a sense of justice and "fair play," work ethic, honesty, curiosity and a determined spirit.
Others however, have not been so fortunate; and I can't help but wonder if, in our society and culture, we were to honor and dignify men whom accentuate and exemplify such high character qualities if our communities, nation and state might change for the better.
Nice thoughts Tim. Those of us who've lost our fathers can't help but think of them on this day.. the good, the bad and the ugly. My Dad passed away in 1982 and it was only in the last years of his life did we come even close to a father-son relationship. He spent the growing up years, if you will, of my life chasing his ghosts from Pearl Harbor through a bottle of whatever he could get his hands on. He must have finally succeeded as he one day put the bottle down and started being the father he never was. That was a good thing.
ReplyDeleteSo, how are you doing Tim? BTW: Keep doing the vlogs!