You and your father

Question from the jar:  Did you and your father share any interests? Tell about your relationship or special things you did together.



Dad with me in front. Mom Anne and Bob

  I loved my dad. Then again what girl doesn't? I was so excited when he came home at night. The start of our evening was usually the same. He would come home, lock up his truck, sit on the back steps and take off his dirty work boots and then come into the kitchen. He would sit down and have a beer while Mom fixed dinner. I would go and sit on his knee during this time. This was always such an intimate time for me, even if he did not say a word to me. He still had his arm around me. I was his.

My dad and mom got a divorce when I was 10, so many of the memories I wish I had, I don't. He completely left my life when I was 14 and died when I was 21. Stories for another time.

Growing up in the LDS Church was magic to me. I loved to go hear stories of Jesus and sing the songs and hymns presented there. My dad was not active in the Church and could be quite negative at times. Often I was the only one that attended on Sundays. It was all I knew, so it was okay.

There were some Sundays that Dad would get up and say, "I'm going to the dump. Anyone want to go with me?" I loved going to the dump. The dump in Ammon Idaho was one that you could wander through and pick up things that were treasures to you but junk to someone else. Dad would let me wander for as long as I wanted and pretty much let me bring home anything I wanted. It was fun. Those Sundays I would stay home and go with him. Often my brother, Bob, would go along, too.

Dad was a quiet man. We would go places and he sat and listened more than participated in the discussions going on. When he did talk, people listened.

Dad was a large man, at least to me. I thought he towered over people in height. He was large around, but not fat. Just big. I loved that in him. He would hold his arm out and let me swing from it. He would pick me up and throw me up in the air like I was a feather. I never worried that he wouldn't catch me as I came down.

I loved him and he loved me, too. I miss my dad.