Sunday, February 15, 2009

Happy Birthday, Daddy

Today would have been my dad's 81st birthday. I thought about him all day, of course, and decided it would be a good day to go visit my mom, since I rarely take the time to do that.

My son and I also seized the opportunity to bring home my dad's '93 Chevy truck, which my mom graciously said CW could have, since he turned 16 last August and we aren't rich enough to buy him a vehicle of his own.

My mom handed over the title and a "bill of sale," and after starting the truck with jumper cables, cleaning it out, and removing the abandoned mouse nest from under the seat, we began the 30 mile trip back home, with me in the lead. I thought about how happy it would make my dad to know that one of his grandkids would enjoy his truck and take care of it.

And all the way home, I got little jolts of bittersweetness every time I looked in the rear view mirror, because it was almost like seeing my dad back there, following me home.

Thanks for everything, Dad, and Happy Birthday.

14 comments:

Marty said...

A wonderful post of remembrance, respect, and thanksgiving. Happy Birthday to you Father.

Marchelle said...

That makes me smile!

Thanks again for taking my pictures. As you can see, I am using one now! =)

countrygirl005 said...

aww :) I'm glad someone will be using it. I remember that truck smelled like Grandpa, and it makes me think of all of the times I listened to him sing/whistle along with the classical music.

LERMONTOV said...

I smiled too. A wonderful post

Simon Butler said...

Very touching to read this, especially with so many people writing of their father not having cared enough about them.

Dickingtonbar II said...

this is the way things should be

Anonymous said...

Today is my little girl's 7th birthday. We celebrated yesterday, probably while you were driving home. Your story reminds me that life is a cycle.

My father is 86 now and several times over the last few years I did not think he would make it this far.

It makes me smile, in fact I can almost see your son driving the old pickup. It is destiny, I think...

yackydoodle said...

what a great story.....made me think of the old 70-something Ford Gran Torino my father was driving when he finally gave up driving....thanks for sharing

MauritaMason said...

yacky, if you haven't yet, you've got to see Clint Eastwood's movie Gran Torino. You absolutely MUST.

becomingkate said...

I'm so glad that your son has his truck. *hugs*

Steve said...

So may we assume he was able to disguise the fact that he was singing along to Zeppelin's "The Immigrant Song", drumming on the steering wheel, and imagining he was flying a fighter jet?

Or was I the only one who ever did all of that at once?

MauritaMason said...

Steve, one out of three: I'm sure he was drumming.

jadedj said...

Beautiful and as it should be.

Anonymous said...

I remember when I still lived at home and G&G would stop by..you could spot that blue truck down the highway before he even turned on the road. Nice to see it's staying in the fam! I do have to ask...is the camper shell still on? :) And when you turned on the radio was the classical music playing? When I hear that kind of music I still say in my head 'it's grandpa bob music!' I'll listen to it now and again and it reminds me of him.

Lindsay