Important date for me

[dreadnut]

We lost my Dad 44 years ago today, on Father's Day. He was a young man, only 56.

June 18. 2022 also marks 50 years since I entered Navy Boot Camp!

 

[davismanLV]

To those who had less than adequate fathers, I understand. To those who have difficulty reading all the platitudes because of all the things you missed out on, or all the things you had to endure.... I understand. If you had a great father, celebrate him. If you didn't, I say celebrate YOURSELF! For all the stuff you missed out on and for some of the bad things you got full-force, celebrate yourself for growing up and learning to live in spite of the bad hand you were dealt from the father deck. To YOU, I raise my glass and say, "Happy Father's Day!!" Days like this are more difficult than you even want to admit.....

 

[walrus]

Well said, Tom. As I got older I realized how lucky I was to have great parents. I had not thought much about what these "holidays" might mean for those who were not so lucky.

walrus

 

[Opsimath]

We lost my Dad 44 years ago today, on Father's Day. He was a young man, only 56.

June 18. 2022 also marks 50 years since I entered Navy Boot Camp!

Sorry you lost your dad so early. My dad has been gone almost nine years and I'll always miss him.

I am happy to be able to say I came from one of the best families on the planet, blessed with fantastic parents, grandparents, great grandmothers (never knew my great granddads), aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins - you get the idea. I don't think it could have been any better.

 

[dreadnut]

Dad's demise was primarily caused by cigarette smoking.

 

[davismanLV]

Well that's sad. I remember when I was little both my parents smoked a lot. Then dad got healthy and started running and gave up smoking. Mom took longer, but she eventually stopped as well. My mom's sister, my aunt, smoked herself into an early grave. It's strange these days, but when I go to a gaming bar for a meet up with friends, some of them are still smoking, but almost no one smokes. But some of those folks just smoke like a chimney!! It's hard to fathom why they think it's okay. My next door neighbor John smokes quite a bit. And he's a radiology tech. You'd think seeing first hand the devastation it causes in the lungs would dissuade him, but no......

 

[dreadnut]

My bro in law smokes incessantly. He's 68, thin, hard worker, I'm just thinking how much healthier he would be if he didn't smoke. Don't much care for his cigarette breath like when we're travelling and he needs to puff one down every time we stop. Stinks up the whole car.

But then, this was me when I smoked, Like they say: "Paybacks are a bitch."

So now I haven't smoked as long as I smoked - 25 years. Ol' Dread wouldn't be here talking to you if I hadn't quit.

 

[Midnight Toker]

Well that's sad. I remember when I was little both my parents smoked a lot. Then dad got healthy and started running and gave up smoking. Mom took longer, but she eventually stopped as well. My mom's sister, my aunt, smoked herself into an early grave. It's strange these days, but when I go to a gaming bar for a meet up with friends, some of them are still smoking, but almost no one smokes. But some of those folks just smoke like a chimney!! It's hard to fathom why they think it's okay. My next door neighbor John smokes quite a bit. And he's a radiology tech. You'd think seeing first hand the devastation it causes in the lungs would dissuade him, but no......

It boggles the mind how every time I'm near a hospital, the outdoor designated smoking area is mainly occupied by doctors/nurses/techs.

 

[davismanLV]

It boggles the mind how every time I'm near a hospital, the outdoor designated smoking area is mainly occupied by doctors/nurses/techs.

My friend Lisa's mom was a nurse in the terminal Oncology Ward at a local hospital. High stress job and dealing firsthand with the terror of cancer and what it can do. She smoked herself to death by the age of 58. You'd think she'd know better!!

 

[Opsimath]

"It won't happen to me."

 

[Nuuska]

Right - the question - why do people abuse themselves?

My father-in-law simply quit walking - according to my mother-in-law - and remained seated at kitchen table. He made it to toilet and back - bed and back - plus some other minor things. But that was it.

Finally he ended being unable to walk and was put in nursing home less than two miles from home. MIL would visit him every day - he was sitting in a wheelchair and helped to bed and toilet and washing.

Whenever he wanted to visit home - a cab delivered him back and forth - but we had to drive there - about 31 miles one way - to assist - because he could not sit in wheelchair all the time - so I lifted him off the chair onto bed - after an hour or two back to chair - MIL feeding him w spoon - then cab bringing him back to nursing home.

For what I've seen - I'd happily die in a bloody car crash - body parts crushed and where seagulls would be picking my remains off the roadside week after. Hopefully no innocent bystanders harmed - that is. . .

 

[bobouz]

My dad died at the age of 46, a few months before my 8th birthday. I have a vivid memory of the day, as he was lying on the sofa reading a newspaper & just went limp, with arms falling to his side. This was 1959, and they weren’t sure of the cause, but “heart attack” was mentioned. Can’t say that I ever really dwelled on what I might have missed growing up, but fortunately, I was lucky enough to have some enduringly positive memories of him tucked away in my little pea brain.

Channeling some of what Tom said, we all grow up & are responsible for our individual choices & actions. Hats off to those who navigate through challenging waters, and wind up make positive contributions along the way!