Jake, I loved this entry and made me think of my own Pop! I hope your dad has an excellent birthday and year!
Jake - Reading this tribute makes me think of my own Dad. We took in 2 cats growing up - both strays. My Dad was adamant that we not keep them and he had a very strong dislike for Jack. Naturally, their favorite family member was Dad! I'll never forget my Dad driving one to the vet and the cat rode hind legs on the back seat, front paws on Dad's head! I also had a paper route that he was less than thrilled to help with. The rule at the Laugen's was he'd help us if it was raining. Pete and I swore it rained every morning! Happy Birthday to your Dad and remembering mine today!
Anne
wow, this makes me hate my parents even more. I remember how my mom would always be late picking me up from places and I would always be the last kid there waiting alone, how she'd blow cigarette smoke in my face, fart at will, and get out a pen and paper to draw exaggeratedly exactly how bad I looked in an outfit she didn't like.
And, oh, Dad. I remember the time my brother, Mom and I got him a pair of sneakers for his birthday, but he didn't like them and got out a kitchen knife, stabbed the shoe box and shoes repeatedly and then threw them into out above ground kiddie pool. And the time he slammed the front door so hard a glass top table in the living room broke, and the time I saw him beating my mother in the hallway, and the time he stabbed a mylar balloon a friend of my mom's gave her for her birthday and smashed the flower vase to which the balloon was attached, and time he told me to go to hell when I was about 4 years old.
Ah, family.
Nice post about your Dad. You should really appreciate good people like that. You are lucky.
Great tribute to your Dad. In honor of him I am going to start using the Jesus on a bike saying. Hilarious.
Great read! Your father sounds like a wonderful man. I'm very happy for you that you are so fortunate to have him.
What a fabulous tribute! Makes me miss my dad so much...Your dad's a lucky man to be so loved and you're obviously very lucky to have him, too. So sorry about the macular degeneration; we've been through that with two family members and it's heartbreaking.
Love your blog - I think I found it when you posted about Rehoboth Beach...I live the area and got a real kick out of your posts, so I subscribed.
Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jake's Dad! Good job on raising the kid, by the way!
Jake, about this:
"He likes to let people think he’s a gruff old curmudgeon, but he’s really little more than a giant bowl of warm Play-Doh in the hands of my niece and nephew."
Are you sure your Dad's not related to my grandfather? They sure sound like they come from the same stock...
A really beautiful post, Jake----a close, loving family is such a gift, and you clearly appreciate yours!
Thanks for sharing this lovely tribute!
This is a great post! What a wonderful tribute to an obviously wonderful man.
They say people don't adopt cats, it's the cats who adopt people.
Sounds like your parents' cat has excellent taste.
Here's hoping your dad has many more fun-filled years with his family, friends, and cat.
awesome tribute to your dad!
I'm so happy for you that you have such a wonderful man for a father and that you have the ability to convey his actions and your emotions to us. Thanks.
One question, is his name Ozzie or Ward? ^-^
I've been reading your blog for a while now (I can't remember how I found it but I'm glad I did!) and I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading it - especially when you write about your family and the love you all share for each other. It's beautiful. What a lovely tribute to someone who sounds like a lovely man.
This post is full of the warm fuzzies. I love it. Happy Birthday Jake's dad!
Nicely done. But we'd expect nothing less.
Such a sweet tribute to a loving man. (I sure miss my dad.) I hope he gets a copy of this in print.
and then there is the great day when all of a sudden you realize, "I am my father!"
wonderful words you shared...
thanks.
Thanks for writing that. I delivered my Dad's eulogy last Saturday, I was so happy that i said many of the things that I wrote about to him before he died. As I read your birthday message to your dad, it's a better tribute to your dad when he can hear it from you. Read it to him aloud.
Boy, yous got a knack for writing. Love the Jesus/bike comment.
HAPPY BELATED BDAY, Mr. Stigers. (no - i was talking to your father, jake)
Often read, rarely comment but this one is too good to leave without saying, great post and love your blog.
Nice!
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