Through the Years

I'm three years old, I have on a great big yellow helmet, ready to ride with Daddy on his motorcycle around the farm. I'm four years old, Daddy has me in his arms, carrying me up the stairs to put me gently in bed. I'm five years old, it's snowing and Daddy is letting me ride his back on the sled down the winding snowy path. I'm ten and Daddy takes me out to work with him, I held the light for a service call or two and then we'd go to Lowes where I would reap the benefits of my "hard work" in the electronics department. I'm 15 and Daddy lets me go on my first date after a lot of persuading and begging! I'm 16 and I'm calling home to tell him, "I'm not going to ever drive this VW again, it won't shift!" only to have him meet me, jump in the passenger side and show me once again how to drive a stick. So many memories...so much care that I didn't realize until now that I'm sharing this.

Lovey, dovey doesn't describe Daddy. Strong and reliable, that's what I think of when I think of him throughout the years. He never showed a lot of affection, but we knew he loved us. When I say us, I'm referring to my brother and me. By the way, my brother bears a striking resemblance to Daddy in his younger years.

Daddy was the one who we were the most fearful of, "Wait till your Daddy gets home." (It can still send a shiver up my spine) The funny thing is I can't remember when Daddy spanked us. I know he did, but I don't remember it. I guess it was the way he handled it. We knew he meant business and so we were remorseful and didn't let it happen again. But I do recall some swinging action in our direction of the backseat of our car; usually at my brother because he had gotten caught. We both knew that I had egged it on, but he was the one who ended up punished most of the time.

Daddy's attire was usually navy pants and his blue shirt with his name on it and the G.E. patch. He worked all of the time! He loved what he did which is why he worked until he was basically unable to a few years ago. Such unfairness, to retire to live like this. My mom and he should be at the beach right now, him watching T.V. and her shopping. That would be fair, but CBGD has ridden him with an unfairness like no other. Instead, his retirement is being spent in rehabilitation, confined to a wheelchair or hospital bed and away from his favorite place, home.

Synonym for CBGD=Unfair