Me with Dad and Mom

Memories Of My Dad On Father’s Day

Day’s With Papa Bear

My Father was the first love of my life.  My knight in shining armor.  My rock, my buddy and my world.  Six foot tall, dark eyes and hair, with an easy manner and deep voice.  He had a charm about him that most people responded to. He loved to enjoy life and he took us along on his adventures.

I learned to have a deep appreciation for the water being raised on the Great Lakes. But this love of the water was a gift from my father.  He would bring home a boat and park it in front of the house. The neighbors would come over walk around the boat and declare that he would never get it to float.  Of course he turned it into a luxury ride for us all to enjoy.  He built twenty-three boats.  He built our homes on main street USA.  Right on the water.  He built over 33 homes.

Later in life he would throw himself out of bed drawing up plans for what ever his mind had designed. He was indeed a builder.  A do it yourself-er!  We learned how to do things ourself.  If we wanted it then it was worth building.

Dad always provided the most reassuring hugs.  The best laughs and the most fun of all.  He took me to dinner when I made the honor roll. He waltzed me around the floor on his toes.  He sat and played tea with me.  We were close as close can be. We raced  motorcycles and snow machines together.  We even won trophies a couple of times.  My Father taught me a love of life.  He is forever in my heart holding me and reassuring me that all is well.

In the photo I’m standing next to my Dad with my Mom.  In front of the house that Dad built dressed in the cloths Mom had sewn.  A small town USA life that was rich in every way.