OT My Dad

[Don Coatney]

What I miss most about my dad is not being able to shar the things in life I have learned. My dad died almost 30 years ago. With the help of the internet I have found and met some cousins who remember my dad from prior to 1920. These cousins have made the stories my dad told me come to life. Below is the last picture I have of my dad and I taken a few months before he died.

[brian hood]

Thanks everyone for the lind words. I was feeling a little low and needed to vent. I do feel some what better. I guess I am not an island.

Brian

[Oldguy48]

Hi Brian,

Thank you for sharing with us. Wow, your post really hit home for me. My Dad passed away in 1985, and in answer to your original question, I think time lessens the pain somewhat, but it never goes away entirely. We just placed my Mom in an assisted living facility, and had to sort through her belongings. Among the items were Dad's Marine Corp uniform, medals, military items, personal letters, tools, etc. It was a very emotional experience for me. I found myself choked up as I looked at those items. I guess it was a vivid reminder that for those of us fortunate enough to have a living parent to not hesitate to tell them that we love them, and show them that we appreciate them. Tomorrow may be too late.

[radioguy7]

Brian,

The pain of the loss does get somewhat better with time. I lost my Dad in December of 2001, one week before Christmas. We worked on many car projects together and we also shared other hobbies together as well. I miss him very much and I too find comfort when I am working on a project or an old car. I can almost hear his voice sometimes giving me an opinion or two. I find that by keeping my interest in old cars alive it's sort of like keeping him around as well. Brian, when you say you almost can feel him around you? Well believe me he is, that's also what keeps me going and trying to do what's right and live my life right as well. I do find a huge change in myself as well since he passed. I find myself a lot grumpier, less patient, and I guess kind of mad at the world but I'm working on it and hopefully with time it will get better. In short, just remember all the good memories, it's all we have until we meet them again one day.

Jeff

[Tony Cipponeri]

I wasn't going to write in here, but then I felt guilty that my dad deserved mentioning. I am like Randroid, my dad passed away when I was 8 years old. He did everything, worked on cars, wood working, masonry, he worked at Ford Motor Company. My memories of him are all about him working on something. My Mom remarried and I had a great step dad, he and I didn't do much together but I was treated good. Tony C