- Sunday, June 19, 2011
- Posted in family,fatherhood
my father in this early twenties
I have many beautiful memories with my father. Some of my most favorite with him are out in nature. He loved to go camping and we did this as a family every single summer in the redwoods of Northern California. He would take his three girls out on hikes for hours. We’d collect rocks and sticks to bring back to camp. We’d go creek walking and he’d hold our hands so we wouldn’t slip. Sometimes when life feels overwhelming and I need to lay down and take deep breaths and find my calm, I will go to that place with my father. The hikes him and I would take alone where there would be silence because nothing needed to be said. Bringing to the trails the comfort we had with one another. The crunching beneath our feet, the sounds of the creek beside us, the wisp of the trees above, breathing in the smell of redwoods in unison. Quiet glances. Knowing. Protection. I often go back there and I know he does too. I love him to the depths and when I spoke with him this morning and we were hanging up, I could sense and hear the crack in our voices. We just want to be together today. But I am grateful. I am grateful that we hold these memories together. I searched this morning for this photo of him. I had to go out in our garage and forage through our boxes. I cried when I finally found it. There he is. That was him. His thick black curls laying on his forehead. His high shiny cheekbones. His pearly beautiful smile. His gut laughter. His dark skin that smelled of campfire. Such a beautiful man then and now. I love it when people say I look like my father. I always loved it…even though I was a girl. I was proud to carry his features. And I am proud to carry him in my heart. My first love.
What are you favorite memories with your father?
June 19, 2011
My dad and I share a great love of music, and he used to bring out his guitar and sing all of the time (and still does). I remember thinking that my dad was a way cooler and bigger rock star than any of those singers on CMT, and to this day, I still feel that way <3
June 19, 2011
My father would drive me down to high school in the mornings before I got my license. We would listen to Orleans all the way down or Beethoven symphonies. He always would go back to the 7th interval in the song “Sails” and we would practice it over and over again together.
June 19, 2011
sweet memories.
my favorite memories of my dad are in nature too. we would go canoeing on the river and go fishing and look for artifacts on the river banks. he’s really good at finding arrow heads and things like that. one time when i was around 7 or so we went hiking and found an old deserted homestead with old postcards and furniture and broken dishes with the blue floral designs on them…it was so cool,like discovering treasure.
June 20, 2011
i was robbed of a relationship with a father. i grew up in an abusive household. now that i am married and i watch the love of my life father my son ,i have renewed faith and belief in the role of a father.
i spent alot of time ignoring my need and my right to a father who loved and cared for me. watching my husband with my son is so healing. i am grateful for my husband today. for the man he is and the father he is and is always becoming. he blows me away on a daily basis.
thank god for the good men in this world.
happy fathers day to all of them and of course, to your boho boy
thank you for reminding us that they exist!!!!
June 20, 2011
i love your father too. for he created you – both from his DNA but mostly with his love.
thank you, denise’s papa.
and thank you for sharing your beautiful memories of him with us. i could FEEL every word. deep.
xoxo
June 20, 2011
listening to my father sing in church
visiting him at his office
watching the news with him
helping him cook
helping him build a fire in the fireplace
watching him play with his grandson
knowing how much he loves his family
June 20, 2011
hi funk-ass cat,
i really wish i had beautiful memories with both my parents…but unfortunately i don’t because since birth i felt asif i was always fighting for survival…if there was any larger-than-life memories…i’m really not able to remember it! i can only remember the ‘bad and the ugly’. i wish upon a star!
i’ve since had a forgiving spirit…but still wish!
love, peace & chickengrease
Jo, the most southern point of africa
June 20, 2011
night swims under the stars. taking his hand for a walk. he would always reach in his pocket for chapstick–and carefully apply the balm to my little lips. my dad would play the piano late at night. i would awaken and hear his love for music fill our home. one of my most treasured gifts in life is how my dad looks at me each time he sees me–with warmth
and a love that has saved my life many times over.
June 20, 2011
Rubbing the top of my head while saying “I’m proud of you. You know that right?” Doesn’t sound like much, but it sure meant a lot. He passed on when I was 6 months prego with my first, and I just know he would be even more proud of his grandchildren.
June 20, 2011
I have wonderful memories of my father too. He loved motorcycles and would take me from the time I was 3 for long rides with him. he also loved stock car racing and many times he and I would go to our local raceway and watch the races. He loved children and I always told him he would love to be a grandpa and he would agree. Unfortunately depression griped him in his mid 40′s and he ended his life at 46 when I was 16. I was heartbroken since he was my hero and understood me so well. *sigh* 6mos later I discovered I was pregnant with my first baby (I was already engaged) later that year I was wed to my fiance and two months after my 18th birthday I gave birth to a wonderful baby boy! That was almost 15 years ago and since then I have had 6 more babies and I share with each of them the wonderfully amazing Grandpa they never got to know. Inside me lives on his love of life and his gentle love of humans and through that his spirit will continue on. Father’s Day used to bear with it pain and sadness but now, I celebrate who he was and the wonderful things that came to be thanks to him. I know he’d be proud of me and proud of his grandchildren. xoxo
June 20, 2011
I have no father so I can’t answer your question, but I wanted to comment that the picture of your dad is amazing and so timeless! I swear I graduated with that guy in 94! Love it. Oh, and I’m so happy you’re happy! Happiness is encouraging!
June 21, 2011
My father once towel dried my hair after bathtime, while watching television when I was around 6-7 years old. Would have taken him ages to dry my hair but he did and I loved it and I have never forgotten it.
And he use to rub my forehead with his thumb in a circular motion until I fell asleep.
P.S. not quite sure why I am telling you this but my dad has passed away and your question brought these memories (and many more) to the surface.
June 21, 2011
Camping also, and sitting on the front porch swing, during gentle storms
June 21, 2011
Watching Star Trek together every Friday night from my early teens to early twenties (till it stopped showing in SA.)
I remember, one night, I turned my head to see him with a pillow on the top of his head: “So the aliens wouldn’t see him.”
And every Friday from then on we’d don a pillow, giggle, and watch our favourite sci-fi together.
June 21, 2011
hmmm, my dad was always so quiet and i am such a boisterous spirit. i don’t remember a lot from childhood, but a recent, very fond memory, is when we canned 54 quarts of dill pickles! we were an amazing team!
June 22, 2011
Beautiful. Sometimes we all forget to aprecciate that they’re still there. My favorite memories with him can be so many. Skiing with him, talking about history or politics in the car, being in the pool with him during summertime. Sigh…
June 22, 2011
Oh I loved this post! When I was three, I said to my mama, ” When I grow up I’m going to marry daddy” She had no idea what to tell me but when my father came home from work she told him what I had said. He scooped me onto his knee and explained to me that he was already married to my mother, the love of his life and that one day when I was much older I would find the love of my life. At 3 I understood him and I have never forgotten the gentleness and grace he showed me that day. He didn’t laugh or make light of it. He has always been the kindest, most empathic person I know and I feel deeply grateful that he is my father.. And I have always been tickled that I have his features too and his moody sensitive nature. I know who to go to when I need deep understanding.
June 23, 2011
My favorite memory of my Dad is from the midst of the worst time of my life. My Mom had cancer – a brain tumor. The surgeries and treatments required her to stay in a larger city. Thankfully her sister lived in the city and was able to care for her. But life required that I continue with school and Dad had to work. So every Friday night, we would load the car and make the 5-hour trek to see my Mom. As we traveled alone in the car, we were able to connect, to talk, to laugh, to forget for a moment the horrible circumstance that we were in. I treasure those memories.
June 23, 2011
So special to have those kinds of memories D
Even better that you know that!
love and light