A Story About My Dad
A Working Man
Here’s one way to spend time with your kids and make them feel special.
My Dad was always a working man. He rarely had a job that paid extremely well or many benefits like sick days and vacation. He usually had to work a lot of hours to have a decent paycheck. And he had 8 kids, so the money had to stretch pretty far. We didn’t always see him a lot. I remember meeting him at work when we were done with our paper routes so he could drive us home. I remember being quiet during the day so he could sleep when he worked nights. I remember Mom sending one of us to wake him up and helping her fix his lunch before he left and then we’d go to bed.
Time Logistics
We loved doing things with Daddy when we could: going to the tipple to get a load of coal for the furnace, reading stories to him, taking a walk down the railroad tracks, running to my grandpa’s farm at milking time to get fresh milk, or just doing chores together like spreading ashes on the driveway for traction in the winter. I remember when he went to do something, we’d usually all troop after him. We always planned something special for our birthdays–often going to the farm and having cake and (homemade!) ice cream. I loved the farm and I loved cranking that ice cream freezer! But Dad ended up missing many birthday celebrations due to his schedule.
Creative Solution
So from somewhere my dad came up with the idea of the “birthday walk.” On each kid’s birthday, he or she was entitled to one walk with Dad wherever we wanted to go. I don’t remember specifically all of mine, but once we walked down the Erie tracks–this was the railroad on the other side of the river from us. I didn’t like it nearly as much as walking on the tracks on our side of the river (I think the Penn Central line) because there were very few crossroads or creeks and much more overgrowth. Once I asked to walk the perimeter of the farm. That was so fun and interesting.
As we got older, we graduated to birthday rides instead of walks. The one I remember best was when I asked to ride to the end of Rt. 208. We lived on this route and I saw the sign noting the west end at the Ohio state line, but always wondered where the other end was. It was a delightful trip which also doubled as a practice session for my picture taking obsession. I’m not good enough to call it photography, even yet!
His Legacy
My dad loved his family. Each one of us was special and important to him. He wasn’t demonstrative or given to talking about his emotions, but I always felt loved. I think this is part of the reason I never doubt God’s love. I honor my dad because even though by some standards he didn’t have much, he gave me what he had.
He died the day before his birthday, Feb. 28, twelve years ago. I miss you, Daddy.
What memories do you have about your dad spending time with you?
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