Saturday, June 16, 2012

Good Fathers Are A Blessing

My Dad
I miss my Daddy every day. He was such a good husband and father.  An Army veteran of two wars, he was eleven years older than my Mother when they married, and they then went on to have four children. Quiet and dependable, I remember my Dad never missed a day of work. He loved to go fishing, watch baseball, and read. He often told me that when he was growing up he read every book in his little Pennsylvania town's public library. His favorite stories were James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales. When I was required to read The Last of the Mohicans in high school, we had our first of many "book talks." My Dad loved to laugh and watch comedies on tvs, such as Red Skelton, Phil Silvers, The Honeymooners, and Life with Riley. The Ed Sullivan Show and the Million Dollar Movie were hardly ever missed. My Dad smelled of the Old Spice cologne I bought him every Father's Day. He liked to jingle the coins in his pocket, and he often hummed happy old tunes such as Marzy Dotes.  One of my fondest memories was the "Father/Daughter Dance" we attended at my all-girls high school when I was a senior student. He had to take the day off from work to attend the dance, and I know that was a sacrifice. He bought a corsage for me to wear and a boutonniere for himself for this special occasion -- you can see how we looked in the lower right of the photo collage above. It was such a proud and happy day for both of us!
My family lost him tragically the next year. He went to work one day and never came home. How he died is much too sad and painful for me to detail here, but he died a hero trying to save others from his fate.  I've missed him every day of the last forty years. This year my Mother joined him in heaven and we had the words "Together Again" inscribed on their gravestone.  You were the best Father I could have wished for, Daddy!  Happy Father's Day!



Thankfully, I was also blessed with the kindest, most loving husband I could have ever dreamed about. A man who was good a father to our children as my father was to me. A man who never raises his voice in anger, who is hard working and devoted to his family and who loves God and his adopted country. We will be married thirty-eight years this October, and each day has been better than the last. My only regret was that he and my father never met, but I know that they would have liked each other very much!  Happy Father's Day, my dearest!


Now my husband and I have the added blessing of seeing our son be a kind and loving father to his own two sons. The shining examples of how his father raised him is evident in all he does. Our grandsons could not have been given a better father and we pray that they will one day be the same for their children.  The legacy of loving fatherhood will hopefully be passed on for many generations to come. Happy Father's Day to our dear son!

Happy Father's Day to all the good daddies everywhere!
You matter more than you could ever imagine!



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35 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

You are so blessed to have such wonderful men in your life. This is a wonderful tribute to your dad!!! And your son and grandsons are beautiful!!! Yes, I know they are all males, but they are still beautiful!

Barbara F. said...

A beautiful post, Pat, and happy Father's Day to Vinny and to your son (his sons look just like him!). xo

Anonymous said...

Hi Millie,
I love this post. Very good looking family. Have a good week-end.

Anonymous said...

I meant Pat. of Course...
silly me.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

What a blessing, Pat, to read about the wonderful men in your life... I know you miss your Dad. I miss mine also--and he's been dead since 1969.

Happy Father's Day.
Hugs,
Betsy

The Gathering Place said...

I enjoyed reading about your wonderful tribute to the fathers in your life. I also feel lucky to have good fathers. I hope you have a nice holiday!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

You are so right, good dads are the best, emphasis on good. I was daddy's little girl and in my mind I always will be. My father was also wonderful and I miss him too. You've written a beautiful tribute. Happy Father's day to your husband.
Sam

Chatty Crone said...

What a great tribute to the men in your life - you have several blessings there. I enjoyed reading about this. sandie

Vee said...

Sweet tributes...brings a tear to the eye. You shared some wonderful photos of your father, Pat. He was a handsome, strong man. How wonderful that you had a real and loving relationship.

In the photo of Vinny and your children...I love the way that he reaches all the way over to his little girl. *Sniff*

And that photo of your son and grands is precious beyond words.

Happy Father's Day to your wonderful guys!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Great tribute to your Father. I love this post.

Arlene Delloro said...

Your beautiful post brought tears to my eyes, Pat. Such a lovely tribute to the men in your life.

ellen b. said...

Beautiful tribute, Pat, and I'm tearing up, too. It really is a blessing to have a good father and a husband who is good to his children, too. Blessings upon blessings...
Have a wonderful day.

Sheila said...

This is a wonderful tribute to your father, husband and son Pat. And like Arlene, it brought tears to my eyes.

Jojo said...

Such a tender and loving post. You look a lot like your wonderful father.

Paula's Postings said...

What a wonderful tribute to your father, husband and your son. You have been blessed with wonderful men in your life.

podso said...

What a touching post about the fathers in your family. You give them all great honor. It's always interesting to read what impacts someone in a post the we write, and when you spoke about your dad jingling coins in his pockets ....that took me right back to my dad and hearing him coming home into our house. It just gave me a me mental picture, and yes, he used to jingle the coins. As he came in. Maybe that's an old fashioned thing as I haven't thought of that in a long time!

Susie said...

Pat, your post of your father, your husband , and your son made me so happy to read it. You are blessed honey. what a wonderful memory of dancing with your father. Smiles, Susie

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Pat, This is such a beautiful tribute to your Dad. A good parent is such a good influence in the way we raise our own families...it helps when there is lots of love involved♥...Clearly, your family is in abundance of this.
♥, Susan

steviewren said...

What a blessing the men in your life have been and continue to be to those they love! How wonderful to read your story of love and devotion. May all of our sons be good fathers.

Michelle said...

SUCH a wonderful tribute to the fine fathers in your life.

El said...

Lovely post! In answer to your question, the new ipad has dictation built in. When the keyboard appears, look for the microphone, tap it and begin speaking. Press the microphone again to stop. Hope this helps and hope you had a lovely day!

Lacey R said...

Really a touching and lovely tribute to your Dad, Husband and Son. I enjoyed reading it. Have a great week!

Proud Italian Cook said...

You are blessed Pat! Beautiful tribute to all. Such handsome grandsons you have!

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

Dear Pat, such a beautiful post about your dad. You pulled as some heart strings when you mentioned how hard working he was, Old Spice, reading and my dad loved his Red Sox baseball. Like your dad, mine passed away very young too, he was only 57, he's been gone 25 years and like you, I miss him, and like you, mom joined him last September.

You've got some pretty amazing men in your life, husband, son, grandsons & new son-in-law! Happy Father's Day!

Mary

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I loved reading your heartfelt tribute to the men in your life Pat, starting with that wonderful dad you had. How lucky and blessed you have been to have found Vinny and had those two great kids and now grandchildren too. The nut doesn't fall far from the tree though.

Tracy said...

Oh, I could just cry... this is so lovely, Pat! The men in your life... such blessings! "Quiet and dependable"...that's my Daddy too. I nearly lost him to a heart attack two years ago, but he is doing so well now. The days are more precious, for sure. I got to talk to him on the phone Sunday. :o) Thank you for sharing this! Happy Week ((HUGS))

Lovella ♥ said...

This is such a beautiful post Pat! I rejoice with you in the good men you have had in your life. I am sorry you lost your Dad tragically but know you have hope in seeing him again some day. How wonderful!

Tanna said...

You have been richly blessed with such wonderful men, Pat. I am so sorry you lost your Daddy so early... I know he would have so loved to meet your other men... and especially those baby two. blessings and hugs ~ tanna

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

What a blessing to have such wonderful men in your life. This was a sweet and touching tribute to all three. Good and kind men, one and all, it seems. And the memories of your father touched my heart, Pat. Hugs to you.

Gracie said...

I miss my dad everyday as well, but I know he's always with me guiding me from above.

Judy said...

What a great Ftaher's Day post...and tribute to the dad's in your life. I had to laugh when I read about your dad smelling of Old Spice after-shave. Was there any other back in the day? It was what we girls gave our dad as well.
So sorry you lost your dad far too soon! I'm sure all the good memories have been a comfort through the years.

Beverly said...

Oh, Pat. I have to tell you that I am in tears. Your post is an amazing tribute to the loving and wonderful men in your life.

I miss my daddy, too. And, I too am blessed with a husband and son who are both wonderful fathers.

Thank you for sharing this love in your life.♥

Yvette said...

Pat you are truly blessed to have had such loving and steady male influences in your life. I got misty reading your wonderful post. You are a very fortunate woman, m'dear. :)

GailO said...

It is truly amazing to see the resemblances between father and child in each photo! Love the pic of you and your father...you are so adorable:) And I love that pic of your son with the boys! Boy do they look just like him!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Oh, Pat, how I have enjoyed this post and reading about your dad. Many of your comments remind my of my own dad. The photos are precious... you have the very same sweet face :)

Lovely tribute to your husband and son as well.

So nice to have you link to Think on These Things!