Here’s to Dad
Posted by SBG on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 7:35 pm
My dad turned 65 years old yesterday. I've always thought of Dad as a young guy, but I suppose there aren't all that many young 65 year olds out there. What I mean is that the age difference between him and me isn't very big. I'll be 43 in just over a month -- he was just 22 when I was born.
My parents were young when I was born and I know that there were struggles, but I've always appreciated having young parents. When I was a kid, Dad was always ready to go out and play catch and he really had a lot of energy to spend with us. I wonder how I'll be when BabySBG is 10 or 15 -- I'm 42 years older than her.
Dad's retired now, kind of. He still works a couple of parttime jobs to bring in a few bucks here and there. He started out as a barber, but making that work in SBGville was just about impossible, so he had to go take a job in the factory. He went to work every day for 32+ years, making Bobcats until he didn't have to anymore. He didn't have sick leave, so I remember more than a few times when he went to work with the flu. He'd be sick all day long, welding and then come home and go to bed. He needed to make that day's pay for the family. He's also a proud union man -- he was an officer in his local for at least 20 years. He was well known among the regional union committees and well-respected. I spent a lot of years working as a salaried employee at Bobcat and I worked with management over there. Those guys were in an adversarial relationship with the union guys and they didn't like the union. But, without fail, I was told that Dad was the one guy that they respected above all others. Hell, I heard more than once that I had a ways to go to match the old man. Dad could have been a helluva good lawyer -- he's got great negotiating skills and he's passionate. I doubt he'd have enjoyed some aspects of it, but he's got some natural gifts that would have come in handy.
Dad took most of his vacation to do farm work in the fall. He still does that. It's something that he loves to do. He's never really had much time off -- but as a kid we still got to those Twins games every summer. That was important.
I'm proud of my dad. He worked hard, but he always had time for his kids, even when we became adults. I talk to my dad a lot. Some days, I just want to shoot the breeze and other times, when life is tough, it's just good to hear his voice, whether I've decided to talk about what's bothering me or not.
I think my dad has a lot of talents. He's a fantastic barber, even though it's been 35 years since he did it for a living. Over Thanksgiving, we were back in SBGville and I got him to give me a haircut. Lucy said the other day that I should have him do it all the time, because no one else gives me as good of a haircut. He's darned good. He was a fast son of a gun, too. Even when I was in high school, I could never out sprint the guy. He high jumped 5'8 (he's 5'10) back before every body did the Fosbury flop -- he rolled over that height. Pretty impressive.
Plus, my dad was an accomplished musician. When he was a kid, he played the organ and gave performances by himself. He never plays anymore, but several years ago, he got the organ from his mother and he got on the organ, I got on the piano, and we played together. I know he hadn't played in 30 years, but man, he was good. I don't know why he didn't keep playing, he had great talent.
He loves riding the Harley Davidson. Every year he heads out to Milwaukee to ride with his union buddies. His buddies out there know a thing or two about Harleys -- they make 'em after all. One time Dad was out there with his guys on some charity ride. Mike Holmgren was riding too. Holmgren wasn't meeting the people, but he got word that my dad had come from ND for the ride. So, he made an exception -- and my dad got a picture of Holmgren shaking his hand. Holmgren's one big dude -- he dwarfed old Butch. Then, there was the time that Dad headed down to Sturgis by himself. I took several pictures of him on his bike before he left and as he drove away. Afterwards, I brought the pictures over to show him. He was pretty happy to get those pictures and it was only then that I told him that I took the pictures because I wasn't sure he was going to make it back. He roared with laughter at that one.
Here's to you, Dad. Still working hard at 65, enjoying life, and hanging tough.
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Nice tribute to the old man, Stick.
Lost mine at 55 back fifteen years ago. Time has flown, but he is still in my dreams.
To Butch, and to good fathers everywhere. Cheers.
Dandy tribute, sir. Think I'll call my pops.
To Butch, to fathers, and to family everywhere. I know I wouldn't be where I am without loads of help from my family.
I wonder how I'll be when BabySBG is 10 or 15 -- I'm 42 years older than her.
Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the 42 years, SBG. ubelmann is 38 years younger than ubeldad, and what ubeldad may have lacked in youthful energy, I like to think he made up for with added experience and maybe even some veteran grit.
Great tip o' the cap to the SBG pater familias. Hope you had a great one, Butch. Here's to many more. *hoists glass*
SBG, I know what you mean when you say how nice it was growing up to have a young dad. Mine was 24 when I was born, so like you I always had someone who had more than enough energy to chase a little shaver around. Hopefully I'll still have some of that young dad energy in my thirties, because I can't foresee Jo and I planning on kids coming sooner than four years from now.
I think it's pretty likely that ten years from now you'll still have some fuel in the tank for playing catch or hoops with BabySBG. One of my favorite movie quotes is from Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indiana Jones tells Marion, "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage." Remember how 100,000 miles on a car was a pretty big deal not too terribly long ago? These days people buy cars with 100k (or, at least with my family 200k) on the odometer without batting an eye. Medicine and nutritional studies have at least kept pace with car mileage. Won't be too long until 50 is the new 30. Keep an eye on your regular maintenance schedules and you'll still be in fine form when BabySBG's just hitting her stride.
Very well written, SBG. Your dad sounds like a wonderful man.
People like you and me, who have a great relationship with our dads, are really lucky. My dad is probably my best friend. I talk to him at least twice a week. The difference is that he's 36 years older than I am. That means that in a few weeks, he'll be 85. And that means that it's not too hard to envision the day when he won't be around any more.
I realize that I am luckier than a lot of people to have had him around this long. He's gotten to see me have a moderately successful career as a lawyer, and is now getting to see me begin my new career as a pastor. But even if he lives to be 100, and has good health the whole time, I know I still won't be prepared for the time he's gone.
There's no real point to this, I guess. It's just that what you wrote really struck a chord with me. Our dads are different in a lot of ways, but their work ethic is the same, and their love for their family is the same. May my dad live for many years, and may your dad be around to count them.
Being 29½ years older than my daughter is a nice range, yet our athletics don't mesh well; while I'd love to play catch or run with her, she's a swimmer (which I am not). On the flip side, a year ago I got to play trombone with her in a Fourth of July performance, which was a big thrill for me.
My father is 31 years older than me; his father was 50 years older than him. While I don't see my father near as much as I'd like to, he's always the first person I go to for advice, and I look forward to seeing mom and dad for a couple days post-Christmas.
Best wishes to you, Butch -- however you did it, you did good!