My dad and I were into D-I-Y, making things around the house. Being an aircraft fitter/engineer/inspector, he knew how to build things to last, by gosh!!!! I still, after 35 years, am the proud owner of a bedside cabinet I built, which is strong enough to stand on!!!!! Cars were the other thing, but the cars with no new-fangles stuff on them, just pure, basic four cylinder car. I worked alongside him when we rebuilt my little Morris 1000 he bought me for my 21st. He never told me htere were thongs girls couldnt do, and he firmly believed girls should know the basics of cars before getting their licence. I knew the basics of my little Morris from front to back, before I got my license, and we spent hours and hours of wonderful time together as he imparted his knowledge to me on how to keep it running. Ahhhhh - those were the days!!!!! Nothing was discardable then, we made do, and if something wasn't available for the car, his engineer skills came in, and he devised stuff to suit the car to keep it running till the proper thing was available. What skills he taought me through this, not just in handy 'man' work, but in all things in life!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks, Dad, you gave me something far more than a car or knowledge of how to put wood together to make things that last, you gave me you, for more hours than most dads would, you gave of yourself, and that was invaluable, no one could count the cost of that!
He now lives in an aged care facility, and I must watch him die, bit by bit, his mind fading and clouding as each week goes by. It hurts more than words can say to see such a wonderful, wise and witty man this way. It's taking him away from me by a small degree each week, each month, as time goes by, there is less and less of my Dad remaining, there is no dignity in Alzheimers, the disease takes all dignity away. I miss so much the man I had as a Dad, and I wish so much, I would give anything to get him back.
Appreciate your dads while you can, He won't always be there for you.
"Love you daddy!!!"