What's your favorite memory of Dad?

[Modem Butterfly]

My dad is the strong, silent type. He never says much, he just sort of watches the world and makes comments every so often. Even if you ask him questions directly, he doesn't have much to say. He's a great listener though and I always knew that he loved me.

My dad's father was a mechanic, and he loves to tinker with cars, a hobby he passed on to me. One day when I was in high school, we were changing the oil on his truck and a couple of missionaries came to the house. They came around to the truck and one introduced himself. My father wiped his hands, introduced himself and said "Hello,". The missionary asked my dad if he'd been to church that day and Dad said "No," since he doesn't believe in God. So the missionary says, "Well, Mr. Butterfly, what do you believe in?" and my dad kind of thought for a moment and he gave the longest speech I have ever heard him give on the subject.

"Well, I believe that the earth is an experiment by space aliens who wanted to set up there own little world for whatever reason. They're kind of keeping an eye on us to see what we do and every so often they interfere with things here, like when the dinosaurs died. But they don't have much to do with everyday folks like me, and I'd feel kind of stupid praying to some alien and it wouldn't do any good anyway. But if it makes other folks feel better, well, I guess that's okay,"

The missionary took a long look at my dad and said, "Well, have a nice Sunday Mr. Butterfly," and left.

[MissHoneychurch]

1. great story

I don't really have a specific favorite story by my dad. But I sue miss his dry humor.

After my parents got seperated (I stayed with my dad) he started to cook. One Sunday his mom called us, asking how we are doing. She is a lady who is always concerned about stuff and who thinks a Sunday without eating meat isn't a good thing. Now it was shortly after the wall came down and we Easterns didn't know all veggies that were on the market. At least my grandma didn't. Anyway, she asked what we had for dinner and my dad told her "Eggplant" )(Aubergine in German). She asked what that is. He told her without a slip in his voice that it is meat. She actually bought it. It was hilarious.

[bertha katzenengel]

2. That is beautiful!

I love it. How I wish my dad had been an atheist. He would've been a better man, maybe.

I'm thankful for my sister's first best friend's father. One of my sisters had a best friend in high school, and that friend's father showed us all (my sisters and I) what a dad really says and does to be a good father, a good man.

That friend is now our oldest family friend, and Dad has been ill for a few years but he's still with us. Pray God not for a long time, but I would sooner fly home upon his death than upon my own father's.

[madrchsod]

3. my dad was an old school democrat

he was a rate clerk most of his life.loved open wheeled racing and traveling. he taught me to judge people by what they do and not how they look...i miss talking to him....

[cornermouse]

4. The fact that whenever I needed him, he was Always there.

and he never pointed out the obvious fact that it was my own stupid fault.

[Bluzmann57]

5. My dad was and is a man

I mean a real man. No he isn't a big he-man type, he knows a little about cars, he has shot guns(in fact he taught me), he is a retired factory worker. Just a regular guy you might say. Not so fast. He is more than that. He is a true man who sacrificed for his family, who he put above everything. He instilled REAL values in his children. Values such as don't lie, steal, cheat, respect all people regardless of race, color, or creed. He loves his children unconditionally, because he knows he did his level best to raise us to be productive members of society. I have tried to raise my kids like that. And he also gave us freedom of choice, but did make sure that we knew the difference between republicans and Democrats. He worked his ass off for McGovern in '72, he was an anti war person during Viet Nam, and never backed down, despite criticism from his peers. And he's a veteran to boot.
A quick story about Bluzdad. Once, when I wsas about 8 or 9 years old, my parents got a plot of land in our small town and invited some poor people from "the city" (Davenport, IA) to grow some veggies and just generally have fun working the land.One day I was riding my bike along the street and a guy hollered at me,"Tell your N***** loving parents to get them out of here". Now as I said, I was just a kid, what the hell did I know. I went home and discussed this with my dad and he explained that the guy was just not too smart and should be ignored by me. He also paid the guy a visit and told him in no uncertain terms that he'd better not ever talk like that to his kid again. And the guy never did. So thats my dad. Thanks for everything Dad. I love ya.