Lily Looks Back…1970
I am the youngest of my family and spent a lot of my childhood feeling like an only child because of the age gap between me and my brother and sister. By the time I was eight or nine, they had moved out and started on their adult lives. I like to remember the times we were all at home to celebrate the holidays together.
We lived out in the suburbs where every tree had been plowed away and the stores were being built up around us. KMart was the first to come followed by a mall just a few years after. Holidays meant there were family shopping trips to KMart where my father or mother doled out some “buying” money to each of us. I looked up and down the aisle of boxed shirt and tie sets laid out for Father’s Day before picking out the perfect one with the backup approval of my mother.
For Father’s Day breakfast, my mom would be certain to have my dad’s favorite of biscuits, sausage and gravy. We watched while he opened our presents and I was thrilled at how delighted he was at my choice. Then we headed off to church and I was already anticipating our Sunday afternoon. Sunday after church was always the best. It meant we’d be seeing our cousins and Father’s Day was the same. One Father’s Day, we all gathered at a local park while the dads grilled out. My uncle made some mean barbecue chicken and aunts and uncles pushed the food unto us cousins. We played nonstop games of tag and kickball and after dinner the adults joined in to play volleyball (my father in pic). My father was athletic and fun-loving. No matter what the activity, he would have everyone laughing. After games, my father pulled out his guitar and my aunts started making requests for their favorite hymn. Often, there was a cousin wanting to learn to play guitar. Whoever was currently trying to learn would play along while my dad gave him tips. There was more eating and before the pack-up began, the cousins started begging to spend the night at each others house. We’d also be running off to squeeze in a couple more games of “Ghost in the Graveyard” before we were called to the cars.
Because of the holiday, we skipped evening services. But, the night ended as our nights usually did. My father wound up his day by playing a few songs on the guitar. It was the background noise in our home and was always there as we hung out trying to avoid bedtime. Tired from the day, it would irritate him if he had to stop to holler at us to leave each other alone and get to bed. The sound of my dad picking songs on the guitar, usually a Chet Atkins tune, put me to sleep most nights of my childhood. Although, it is not a Father’s Day pic (Christmas 75, I think), I had to include one of my father playing his guitar.
We are fewer now, and I treasure the memory of the time when we were young, healthy and our world was secure with our parents. Happy Father’s Day Dad!
Jennie Looks Back…1993
This is probably my favorite picture of my dad with my niece, taken in 1993; she’s about 21 months old and he’s 62. I like it because they’re both looking so directly at the camera, and my dad has a firm grasp on my niece. He was always tentative with her, the way he was with his own daughters when we were young. It was like he thought we might break. I remember hating it when he brushed my hair; my mom brushed my hair HARD (sometimes a little too hard) in an attempt to restore order and stave off the tangles that constantly formed. My dad brushed my hair so gently, and you’d think I would prefer that, but I was used to the tough brushing, and after that the gentle brushing felt weirdly irritating, like being tickled, almost. I never said anything because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
I don’t think it was until I was grown that I recognized that my dad was a worrywart. He worried if I was talking to him on my cell phone; didn’t that lead to brain tumors? Once my sister and I were visiting with my niece; she couldn’t have been more than 3 months old. We had put her in the middle of his (king-sized) bed and were standing around talking, probably a foot away from the bed. My dad started fretting; the baby might roll off the bed. I was astonished and amused myself with the idea that my tiny niece was actually some sort of secret baby ninja, capable of executing several rapid consecutive rolls to get to the edge of the bed and fall off before any of us could stop her.
My dad has been gone six years. I don’t miss him every day, the way I do with my mom. But occasionally I think about that gentle hair brushing, and the memory makes me smile.
Jen Looks Back…2009
Father’s Day has a special meaning in our house. Both of my kids have birthdays close to Father’s Day. My daughter was born on Father’s Day in 2001. My dad tries to make the trip from California to Colorado every Father’s Day to not only celebrate the kids birthdays but so that we can celebrate Father’s Day together. My kids LOVE that they get to see their Grandpa on that special day, and so do I. I have a lot of memories with my dad. We spent our summers with him as kids. We would go camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains, swim at the pool, and go roller skating. Roller skating was a big thing. I still remember him trying to teach me how to skate backwards! I’m pretty sure I mastered it, but there’s no way I’m doing it now! He would take us to the beach and we would make sand castles all day long. I’m just glad my Dad can be here on this special day and make new memories with us. Happy Father’s Day, Dad!
Stephanie Person says
June 13, 2013 at 6:17 amLoved the stories in this post. How cute!!
Tess says
June 13, 2013 at 6:56 amLove the theme of this post! Great idea for Thursdays-I have a Tuesday Things.
Bella Vida Letty says
June 13, 2013 at 7:59 amNice photos for Throwback Thursday.
Kristi says
June 13, 2013 at 8:05 amSounds like you have a very hands-on Dad that was able to spend a lot of time with you. That’s awesome. So nice that he is able to make the trip to see you and your family on Father’s Day.
Stacy says
June 13, 2013 at 8:09 amHappy Father’s Day! Love your Throwback Thursday images, so fun!
Giveaways 4 Mom says
June 13, 2013 at 9:19 amThis is such a wonderful post.
Terry (My Journey With Candida) says
June 13, 2013 at 10:20 amLucky for those of you who still have your Dad with you. Enjoy him while you can… I miss my Dad terribly… and my Mom too.
Erica Ardali says
June 13, 2013 at 11:38 amThanks for sharing these memories with us. I love old photos.
Pam@IW says
June 13, 2013 at 1:33 pmI love all of these. Very heartwarming.
Lily, it sounds like your Dad was very involved and that you have a lot of the same type of memories I have. My Dad loved to play the organ.
Jennie, I love it when Dads are gentle like that with their daughters…as if they are going to break.
Jen, having your Dad visit you every Father’s Day has to be real special.
All of you have very handsome fathers
I want to wish my Dad, who is 89 years old this year and still going strong, a very happy Father’s Day. I wish we could be back home with you all but I know that you will be well taken care of by my sister and brothers.
Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers out there!
Melinda Dunne says
June 13, 2013 at 3:52 pmThis is a great post. I love all the pictures and the memories will last forever. I hope you have a great Father’s Day!
Cynthia L. says
June 13, 2013 at 4:06 pmWhat a great post! I love to hear stories of daughters and fathers. I always said a daughter will pick a husband liker her father. Fathers need to keep that in mind.
Ann@IW says
June 13, 2013 at 5:57 pmWonderful memories.
How wonderful your dad travels to see the kids for their birthdays, Jenn!
Jennie, I don’t like the gentle hair brushing either. I think my girls have that same memory: mom gets the tangles out, dad brushes just the top layer.
Lily, your dad sounds like mine, athletic and involved. My dad couldn’t play an instrument (except the kitchen spoons on his knee) but does he LOVE to sing. I spent many a night falling to sleep listening to Pop, “The Baby Whisperer” singing a younger sibling to sleep.
Holly says
June 16, 2013 at 10:41 amI love all of these stories! Yesterday we went to Malibu,CA and drove by a Campground that we used to go to when we were Kids. Camping was a big part of our Childhood and my Dad was the “Master Camper”. Each Kid had a job and under his direction our Campsite was up and running in a few minutes. My Dad always did the cooking and nothing ever tasted so good as Hot Dogs and Baked Beans for Dinner and Bacon and Eggs for Breakfast. My Dad has been gone for 16 years and I truly miss him but more than that I am thankful that I had him in my Life. I think this Generation is missing out on having a Father and an example of a “Good Man” in their lives. This is not a political statement in any way just an observation that so many Women have Children without a Father Figure (often by choice) and I think having a Father (if at all possible) is so important to Children.
Lily@IW says
June 16, 2013 at 10:52 amJen, Awww how cool that your dad comes to celebrate with all of you.
Jennie, Thanks for sharing that sweet pic. Btw, I would have never guessed your father to be 62 there.
Ann, “the baby whisperer” I like that. And, Pam’s dad on the organ. There’s something special about those musical memories.
Happy Father’s Day!
Pam@IW says
June 16, 2013 at 11:30 amGreat memories Holly! I can’t believe it has been 16 years. Happy Father’s Day to our Dads up in heaven. They are loved and still very much with us. Their deaths may end their physical presence but not the love or memories.
Anya@IW says
June 17, 2013 at 10:19 amThank you all for sharing your memories – in the post and the comments. I waited until after Father’s Day to read this. The day makes makes me kind of wistful – for a few different reasons. It’s easier to read today. I do love hearing about some of the great dads. I love that many are still with us (going strong at 89!). Holly, as a single mom, I agree with you. If at all possible, I think our children benefit from some sort of father figure in their lives.
Holly says
June 17, 2013 at 10:32 amAnya,
I have many friends who are Single Moms and I think that a “Father Figure” can be an Uncle,a Grandfather,a Stepfather, or a Friend. It is just nice to have some positive Male Influence. I was talking to a Friend last week whose Ex Husband was terrible Father! He was very much the “Womanizer’ and financially irresponsible. She said her Daughter, who is in her 20’s had a very negative and mistrusting idea of Men and it was hard for her to have relationships. It would have been nice if she had found another Male to be a “stand in” Father figure just to show that there are still good and positive Men out there.
Stephanie Phelps says
June 18, 2013 at 9:18 amMy father and I have struggled with our relationship since I became an adult but I remember when I was growing up we lived on a farm and our family was very close. My Dad was always fixing things but always took the time to make tire swings and go cart paths for us to have fun on and even built a pond for us to swim in on those hot summer days! I love those memories and cherish them today!
Pam@IW says
June 18, 2013 at 9:56 amHi Stephanie,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing those memories. I think it is those simple things that our Dads did for us that will always stay with us.
Maintaining family relationships as an adult can be difficult for many. I don’t think you are alone with that.
marty says
June 18, 2013 at 1:50 pmI nominated you for a Liebster Award… to find out more go to http://www.thoughtsonlifeandmoney.com/2013/06/i-am-now-liebster-award-nominee-you.html
Megan says
June 19, 2013 at 3:44 pmIt’s cool to see how a holiday means such different memories for different people!
Vivian says
June 23, 2013 at 3:07 pmMy dad was the same way as yours…he brushed my hair gently while my mom always was rough. I still have my daddy (he will be 84 years old in December!) and my mom passed away suddenly in December 2008. I was very close to my mom as an adult but my dad and I have so many moments together growing up so our bond will always be there. Now that I have 2 kids ..I love how close my husband and dad are to them 🙂
Marisa Johnson says
November 6, 2013 at 7:04 amThank you for sharing your stories of Father’s Day. I miss the simple times of yester-year so much, and I hope that my daughter’s can have some of the same memories you had of their daddy 🙂
snickers says
June 15, 2014 at 4:22 pmThanks to all that shared your stories. I lost my Dad, my best friend ( I learned to garden with him and to fix simple broken things.) I did have a sniff today, without trying to be a bummer to the party. Hubs here had a great day here, it’s his day, and he even fixed the neighbors mower, while all of us spent the day on the patio with good food and laughs.
Happy Father’s Day!
Lily@IW says
June 26, 2014 at 3:45 amI am really late to the post on this one. I wasn’t feeling too well this month, sort of feel like I lost some time. I loved reading about the dad’s. I sure miss mine too and was thinking about him (Isn’t he handsome with his guitar?). I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day.
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