Miss the Old Man

The unique thing about my oldest son's Birthday is that he also shares it with my Father. Dad was a Machinist by trade, certified Tool and Die maker, if you like the formal title it used to have up here. Check out the pipes on him!

I learned to work on cars and mechanical things from my dad. My mom used to tell a story that when, in grade 4, I declared I wanted to be an Engineer, he said that he wasn't going to have a damn "book" engineer as a son. I learned to work on trucks, cars, snowmobiles, mini-bikes. Pretty much anything with an engine. I put together a 77 Yamaha RD400 that I bought in boxes for $30. I've continued down that path and still enjoy working and fixing stuff.

We lost dad over 25 years ago, but this is the day that I choose to remember him. One of my few regrets in life (which I can do nothing about), is that Dad never lived to see my sons. He was gone over 9 years before the oldest was born.

The old man would have been 80 today!! Happy Birthday Dad - where ever you are - hopefully sitting with Mom with a never-ending case of cold Ex at his feet!

Great pic of your Dad. I can just imagine what he's saying to the photographer. He looks like a great fun-loving guy. Too bad he's not still around for you and your children.

Your dad was a good guy - raised you right.  My dad trained me the same.

Look at the guns on that guy !

My dad was an sprinkler engineer and he did a ton of construction work throughout Chicago.  I miss getting information out of him - what's that old building, where was this building at....he knew all the history. 

I tell myself a lot - I miss the old man. 

Damn, those are some guns! 

I'm missing my Pop, too. He passed away just three weeks ago. 

He was a draftsman and a Packer fan. He was nearing 82. 

Miss my old man. Now that I have a house there is so many questions I'd ask a master carpenter.

In reply to Appleseed :

Just wait until your little demon arrives. But I'm also with you, having a house now, it would be really helpful to hear some of those old lessons again. 

I tell you what, it's berkeleying scary looking in a mirror these days and seeing him staring back. It was 5 years in January, would have been 63 this year. 

51 years ago.  Last picture of my Dad. You can almost see the heart condition that would kill him two months later in his face...

Thanks everyone, I was just reminiscing and I think that it's great that a number of you had some wonderful comments and/or shared pictures of your fathers.

Made my day better. Thank you all!