On this day, in 1993,

[Racerbvd]

On this day, in 1993, I got a phone call that I was unprepared for, it was around 8 AM, and we had Santa’s in the Malls (Jax had more than 3 malls then) and was told my Father was found passed out, well, just a few days before he had gotten me very drunk, and Vickie was still pissed about that (he lived on his boat & the club, near from Vickie & I). I called my Evil step-sister, told her what I was told, I stayed in town on the Fri since we had so much going on with the Santa’s. All day long, I kept calling the boat & my Step-sister, but got no answer, and I kept working. Well, as evening came, I still didn’t know what was going on, and kept trying to reach someone, finally, around 8PM, while at a Porsche Club Christmas party hosted by Hal & Paige Mankin, someone answered the phone at my evil step sisters house, it was her husband at the time, Terry, I asked how Dad was and Terry told me that he “WAS GONE”, I asked where, as my Dad was always crewing on someone’s boat or taking a trip, one of the joys of retirement. Then Terry explained, that he was dead, I wasn’t prepared for that, after all, we had just had a great time at the Club a few nights before, looked fine when I stopped by the boat to check on him & my Old Man was invincible.. Well, I guess he wasn’t, and the fact that Elise, who had all my contact numbers, didn’t even have the curt icy to let me know that Dad was gone.. He made me the Man I am today, while some don’t understand my love for a Man that they perceived as hard, borderline abusive, it wasn’t until much later that I learned that what he was really doing was forging a man and after I figured that out, my opinion had drastically changed about him. Yes, he was very hard on me, but it made me a better man in the long run. So, every Dec. 11th, I feel a bit more empty, alone & sad.

[kaisen]

Fathers are hard to lose. Keep his memory strong

[dtw]

Peace, Byron.

[Seahawk]

The twain between hard and merely difficult when a father and son are being discussed is up to them.

Love your Dad.

[KFC911]

Think of the good times and cherish those memories...be well Byron!

[syncroid]

A nice tribute to your father's memory Byron. Having just lost my dad myself, makes me think of all the memories of my own dad. Thanks for sharing.

[lm6y]

I'm glad you figured out his plan, and he wasn't just being abusive. I'm sure it wasn't easy on his side either, but his plan seemed to work.

Someone once said that "at 18 I thought my Dad was the dumbest man alive. At 30, he's the smartest man I've ever known." I'm sittin on the other side of 40, and completely understand that if I were half the man my Father is, I'd be 10 times the man I am today.

Men like our Fathers were cut from the same cloth, and that cloth is very rare today...

[crustychief]

Thank you for sharing Byron. I went to ft Rosecrans cemetery yesterday to give my dad a Christmas tree.

[LakeCleElum]

Very sad story Bryon. Sounds like your dad spent his retirement years living a good life....

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by lm6y

I'm glad you figured out his plan, and he wasn't just being abusive. I'm sure it wasn't easy on his side either, but his plan seemed to work.

Someone once said that "at 18 I thought my Dad was the dumbest man alive. At 30, he's the smartest man I've ever known." I'm sittin on the other side of 40, and completely understand that if I were half the man my Father is, I'd be 10 times the man I am today.

Men like our Fathers were cut from the same cloth, and that cloth is very rare today...

I couldn't add any more to this statement. Take care Byron.

[peppy]

Take care Byron....some years the anniversary is harder than others.

[Racerbvd]

Thanks guys, I'm about to take a bike ride down to the Club, sit on the deck and give him a Gin & Tonic and enjoy this beautiful day we have today on the river..


A year to the day, after he passed, I did the one thing that he wanted to do, but never did..


So, thanks again friends, as I am on my way to the Club, to enjoy the day, the water, a fine cigar and what I call time with my father... Take a moment, and call you Dads if you still have them,...

[onlycafe]

byron, as i type this i'm raising one to you and your dad.

[azasadny]

Byron,
Keep those memories alive!!

[RANDY P]

I'll tip one tonight for your dad. Good for you for honoring his memory.

rjp

[pwd72s]

Kudos to you...and your dad, Byron...

[wolf76]

My thought are with you Byron. I just lost my Dad in August. I know no one has the words to make the loss any easier but it's really touching the way you honor his memory.


Chris

[Joeaksa]

Feel the same way on 11 June, the day my Father passed. RIP

[Laneco]

Your Dad must have been an amazing fellow, Byron, to raise a man as extraordinary as you.

angela