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c172g · 11-01-2006, 01:56 PM

This is almost like therapy!

My dad was a great guy. I was a "surprise package", so my dad was 44 when I was born, and within a few years smack in the middle of starting up & trying to make profitable a new company. He was always the type who worked his ass off at anything he did and absolutely had no use for anyone who didn't.

Anyway, I learned a lot of things from him that I want to instill on my kids. I also learned a lot of things from him that I don't.

My older brother got to have my dad coach his ball teams & hockey. By the time I came around, dad was busy starting up a new business & didn't have time to do that with me. There were a lot of things like that. It wasn't like I never saw him, he was around the house a lot, but he was also very busy & traveled frequently on weekends to trade shows. The biggest thing I remember doing with my dad with regularity was duck hunting. I still go out to the spot we hunted together for years when I want to feel like I'm close to him. That place was always our bond & always will be. I take my son out there (he's three) every father's day, because I like to think Grandpa gets a better look at him when we're there.

I'd like to think I have my father's drive to do things right & am a good worker. I do take time with my kids because I realize someday I'll be gone & they'll be sitting here, in the same spot I get to sit, due to the fact that Grandpa worked his butt off & came up with a successful business that keeps his three kids enjoying a comfortable lifestyle.

So, my trade off was to spend more time with him, or enjoy the business that he worked so hard to develop. As I said above, he left it to us kids, and things have gone very well for us. None of us are millionaires, but we are all comfortable & have what we need. I think about what I might be doing if dad took more time with me & didn't develop the company as he did. I'd be in a very different position, and life would in general be very, very different.

I miss him every day, thank him for what he did for all of us, & look forward to my next trip to our duck hunting spot.

11-01-2006, 01:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
c172g Crazy Location: Michigan	This is almost like therapy! My dad was a great guy. I was a "surprise package", so my dad was 44 when I was born, and within a few years smack in the middle of starting up & trying to make profitable a new company. He was always the type who worked his ass off at anything he did and absolutely had no use for anyone who didn't. Anyway, I learned a lot of things from him that I want to instill on my kids. I also learned a lot of things from him that I don't. My older brother got to have my dad coach his ball teams & hockey. By the time I came around, dad was busy starting up a new business & didn't have time to do that with me. There were a lot of things like that. It wasn't like I never saw him, he was around the house a lot, but he was also very busy & traveled frequently on weekends to trade shows. The biggest thing I remember doing with my dad with regularity was duck hunting. I still go out to the spot we hunted together for years when I want to feel like I'm close to him. That place was always our bond & always will be. I take my son out there (he's three) every father's day, because I like to think Grandpa gets a better look at him when we're there. I'd like to think I have my father's drive to do things right & am a good worker. I do take time with my kids because I realize someday I'll be gone & they'll be sitting here, in the same spot I get to sit, due to the fact that Grandpa worked his butt off & came up with a successful business that keeps his three kids enjoying a comfortable lifestyle. So, my trade off was to spend more time with him, or enjoy the business that he worked so hard to develop. As I said above, he left it to us kids, and things have gone very well for us. None of us are millionaires, but we are all comfortable & have what we need. I think about what I might be doing if dad took more time with me & didn't develop the company as he did. I'd be in a very different position, and life would in general be very, very different. I miss him every day, thank him for what he did for all of us, & look forward to my next trip to our duck hunting spot.