12Pack
Dyslexic b00n
Looking out I see many family and friends. It is such a healing gift to be surrounded by your love for my father. Thank you all for coming and showing my family and me that my Dad holds a special place in your heart. Your friendship allows us to know that my father will be nearby because of the memories stored within you. Please share them with us. Never hold back, not know or in the years to come.
I've had a father for 42 plus years and I have not had a father for 4 days, so anything I say today must be understood as the words of someone only 4 days old. But I still will try and indeed this trying is a gift from my father.
My father loved a good prank, a jokester by nature he found humor in everything. There are countless stories of funny moments, hilarious predicaments and I am sure that everyone in this room has shared laughable experiences with him. From falling out of row boats- to purposely sending inappropriate gifts for laughs, there was never a time when we weren't sure how the day would adventurously end with him.
Growing up I always enjoyed when family and friends would visit. I was able to hear stories of their adventures and trouble they would barely skimp by without getting caught. As the night grew on I'd be part of new adventures which often lead to search parties looking for my uncle who would fall asleep while hiding, or myself waking up to a new set of rules due to broken glass due to their celebration of life while throwing stemware into a burning fireplace. My father taught me how to have a sense of humor about everything, no matter how sad and to not take life to seriously.
My father was very focused, patient and poised himself to let natural processes flow. He lived carefree with the expense of wanting other to always laugh. He was also very frugal. I do believe if God had appeared to him during his end of life moments, offering him a ride to heaven, my Dad would ask how much the ride costs and does he get a senior citizen discount.
He taught me many lessons in life through example and experience. When I was around 9 or 10, I was caught sneaking a beer out of the refrigerator. Instead if making me dump it down the drain, he sat at the kitchen table with me and made me drink it while he watched. I guess you could say I had my first beer with my father, but it was very awkward and through that humiliation I never snuck another beer out of the fridge again.
And as I grew up, and overcame challenges and life's obstacles my Dad was always by my side. Yet, when I did succeed he stood back and took no credit.
My fathers last days were not easy for him. Always wanting to keep busy, he found it hard to concede to his body's elderly imperfections and growing need to depend on others for support. Always a giver, now he had to receive. That was hard for him. When in Florida this past winter, I swear he timed his hospital stays to be released so he could move his RV by himself, not allowing others to handle that for him.
No, my father was not perfect. Who in the world is? He was however, I am proud to say, perfectly himself. A loving husband, a teacher, hard worker, a man of integrity and more than anything, he was my Dad. For that I am ever greatful.
I've had a father for 42 plus years and I have not had a father for 4 days, so anything I say today must be understood as the words of someone only 4 days old. But I still will try and indeed this trying is a gift from my father.
My father loved a good prank, a jokester by nature he found humor in everything. There are countless stories of funny moments, hilarious predicaments and I am sure that everyone in this room has shared laughable experiences with him. From falling out of row boats- to purposely sending inappropriate gifts for laughs, there was never a time when we weren't sure how the day would adventurously end with him.
Growing up I always enjoyed when family and friends would visit. I was able to hear stories of their adventures and trouble they would barely skimp by without getting caught. As the night grew on I'd be part of new adventures which often lead to search parties looking for my uncle who would fall asleep while hiding, or myself waking up to a new set of rules due to broken glass due to their celebration of life while throwing stemware into a burning fireplace. My father taught me how to have a sense of humor about everything, no matter how sad and to not take life to seriously.
My father was very focused, patient and poised himself to let natural processes flow. He lived carefree with the expense of wanting other to always laugh. He was also very frugal. I do believe if God had appeared to him during his end of life moments, offering him a ride to heaven, my Dad would ask how much the ride costs and does he get a senior citizen discount.
He taught me many lessons in life through example and experience. When I was around 9 or 10, I was caught sneaking a beer out of the refrigerator. Instead if making me dump it down the drain, he sat at the kitchen table with me and made me drink it while he watched. I guess you could say I had my first beer with my father, but it was very awkward and through that humiliation I never snuck another beer out of the fridge again.
And as I grew up, and overcame challenges and life's obstacles my Dad was always by my side. Yet, when I did succeed he stood back and took no credit.
My fathers last days were not easy for him. Always wanting to keep busy, he found it hard to concede to his body's elderly imperfections and growing need to depend on others for support. Always a giver, now he had to receive. That was hard for him. When in Florida this past winter, I swear he timed his hospital stays to be released so he could move his RV by himself, not allowing others to handle that for him.
No, my father was not perfect. Who in the world is? He was however, I am proud to say, perfectly himself. A loving husband, a teacher, hard worker, a man of integrity and more than anything, he was my Dad. For that I am ever greatful.
