Dear Dad

by earthriderjudyberman In Family, Holidays 36 Comments

Dad and me - overheated car - Dad clowning around 1

By Judy Berman

Photographs and memories, snippets of a song, so many things remind me of my Dad.

Strolling thru a park, I see a father pushing his daughter on a swing. That takes me back to a wild ride one winter with my Dad on a sled.

A little boy runs up, breathless with excitement. His Dad puts down his cell phone and listens attentively as his son recounts the day’s events. Those special times are fleeting.

How I looked forward to when my Dad came home from work so I could tell him all that happened that day.

Dad and Judy - Copy

A man ran, holding onto his daughter’s bike, until he felt she was confident enough to ride the bike on her own. Another father showed his son the fine art of flying a kite. If I could just turn back the hands of time and return to those days.

I remember my excitement when Dad converted an old orange crate and roller skates into a sidewalk-worthy race car. All the neighborhood kids were eagerly waiting their turn for a ride.

As I look thru old family photos at faded photographs, I also see my Dad’s humor and patience.

In one, our car is by the side of a long, lonely stretch of road. It had overheated. Dad, his hand to his head, playfully milked the moment for a joke. Then he got down to business and got the car running smoothly again.

Dad and me - overheated car - fixing

In all these moments, Dad is with me still. He’s never far from my thoughts.

For all Dads, step-Dads, Big Brothers … Happy Father’s Day. Give yours an extra hug from me.

—

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Judy Berman and earthrider, 2011-15. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to (Judy Berman) and (earthrider, earth-rider.com, or earthriderdotcom) with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

* Photo: Dad – Joseph H. Fiet III and me, Dad clowning around when our car’s overheated

* Photo: Dad and Judy (me)

* Photo: Dad and me, Dad working to get the car running again.

 

 

  1. Beautiful memories and tribute, Judy. Happy Father’s Day, sir. Your daughter Judy turned out to look just like you as she gathered the age and wisdom you showed in these photos!

  2. You beat me to the punch, Judy, with your homage to Father’s Day this week.

    Your photos are choice, especially the one fixing the car by the side of the road. Who has photos like these, and from so long ago. From what I’ve read, you seem to have inherited your dad’s temperament and some of his other commendable traits.

    Love this post–it’s obvious you adored your dad.

    1. Thank you for your comments, Marian. I can’t wait to read your story. We all have so many good ones to tell.

      My Mom didn’t take many photos, but I do have some of me when I was a baby and when they were little as well. I think I do share some of my Dad’s traits. I definitely have his corny sense of humor. I only wish he’d left me his math genes. 😉

  3. Beautiful tribute. My Dad passed in 1958. I was very young but I have vivid memories similar to yours. I only I could go back for just one day.

    1. Thanks, Kate. Mitch Albom wrote “For One More Day” – the theme is what would you do if you could spend one more day with a loved one. I think we’d all wish for that one more day. 😉

  4. Father is still with me. He’ll be 91 in Sept and is a little slow but gets around just fine. He has lived with me 13 years. Mother too, but passed 2 years ago. Several month’s before that I somehow knew it would be the last Mothers Day.

  5. This is a beautiful tribute, Judy. The go-kart made from a wooden crate and roller skates took me back, too. It’s always too soon to lose a parent, but those memories are forever.

    1. Dad was 91 when he passed in 2011. He was very active, taking his dog out for walks in the desert every day. I miss his funny stories and talking with him. But the memories, as you say, are forever. Thank you, Charles, for your comments.

  6. I’m glad you have these happy memories of your father to savor. He seems an awfully kind and good-natured man, as evidenced by mugging for the camera when his car had broken down. That tells me a lot about what kinda guy he was. Thanks for sharing these sweet memories.

    1. Some silly and sweet moments preserved forever – stashed in my memory bank and on film. Barbara, I wish it were possible to share these sweet memories with my Dad. But I’m glad for the good times we did have. 😉

  7. This is touching and real, and nostalgic for all of us from our generation.
    I LOVE your pictures. I have so many similar memories, but very few pictures. The ones I did have were ruined in a flood in our basement years ago, so I’ll smile at yours and pretend they’re mine. 😉

    1. Marilyn … Thank you for your thoughtful response. I’m delighted you love the photos and you’re welcome to share them. 😉 If you were a tomboy, like I was, then we already have a lot in common. The photos do bring back many memories. I’m sorry you lost yours.

  10. A beautiful, loving tribute to an amazing man and father. Words that echoes from the heart. His legacy lives on always.

  13. Jut popped over from my blog to find out a bit about you – and what a lovely post to introduce me to you! A great tribute to your father and to Dad’s everywhere. Like you, my Dad is never far from my thoughts.

  14. I love your pictures here Judy, especially the one where you’re helping your Dad out!! 😉 Mothers and Fathers days are a difficult to avoid, those cards are everywhere and often remind me I’m parentless, and that’s a little painful sometimes, but still, it’s not as bad as it used to be, time soothes the pain a little.

    And I know exactly what you mean when you talk of seeing fathers with their children, it never fails to bring it all back. In fact I’ve found in recent years some of those moments to be the most emotional, because we are literally seeing that same moment happening again for someone else this time. And then I start thinking about how those children will be me one day, looking on with memories, but of course they don’t know that, and probably just as well they don’t. I was writing a poem about my dad a few weeks ago, and I wrote ‘I thought bliss was everlasting’ I’m sure for the first few years of my life I really thought everything was forever. Anyway, at least we can enjoy writing about some of those moments, not everyone can do that or allow themselves to indulge in those kind of memories. Thanks for a thoughtful post Judy, and I could look at old photos all day, I don’t mind who’s family they are, they always fascinate me, and can be inspiring for writing too! 🙂

    1. Looking at that photo, Suzy, I wondered … did I get it dirty? It looks like we were on a Sunday outing because I rarely wore dresses.

      I love your comment about seeing fathers with their children starts you to “thinking about how those children will be me one day, looking on with memories.” I do wish everyone has those kinds of memories. Glad you like the photos, too. They’re fun to look back on. 😉

  15. Those types of memories are so special. Thank you for sharing. The photos are wonderful. I especially love the one of you both peering into the car at the engine.

    My dad was very different from yours–I can’t imagine him attempting to fix a car–but it triggered my own memories. I also miss my father. I’m sorry he didn’t get a chance to see my daughters as young adult women.

    1. I doubt I was much help in repairing the car, Merril. But the photo is a gas.

      Dad was an electronics engineer and was quite comfortable around cars. He made our first TV, and much more. Thankfully, he got to see our two grandchildren. I only wish my Mom had. She died less than a month before our first grandchild was born.

  16. The bike, the sled and the overheated car memories are so special, Judy! I enjoyed how you respected your father and how you focused on such great memories! I miss my Dad often, sometimes so much it hurts. Glad I looked back at some of your posts. I have gotten out of touch with several people I follow! Smiles, Robin

    1. Robin … Father’s Day is the hardest holiday for those of us who miss our Dads. I appreciate your comments. May those special, happy memories bring a smile to your face. Thank you for stopping by. I do appreciate it..

  17. Your love for your dad shone through in each cherished memory you shared with us Judy. A truly special tribute.

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