My Mom and Dad! They were such great influencers when I was young! Still to this day I learn a lesson or 2 from their “Life Lessons”. My Dad’s life lessons sometimes required some thought and could take some time to figure out. My Mom’s was swift and you got it right away! Lol! I lived in a house where my Mom and I would jive to the stereo and my Dad taught me how to waltz standing on his feet. Where hard work was required to survive but you could learn to laugh through it.
Let me tell you a little bit about them. They were older when they had me. I was an accident! Lol! My nearest brother to me is 10 years older. My Mom was 43 and my Dad 48. Although they were older that did not stop my Mom from being my baseball coach, she once hit a line drive right at me. I was about 11 or 12 years old and the pitcher. Knocked the wind right out of me. As soon as she knew I was not going to die she told me to walk it off! Nice talk for suck it up your alright! Lmao!!! She took me to dance. I danced competitive Baton and Jazz from the time I was 4 to 17. Yup I can still twirl a fire baton but would need a little practise before lighting it! She walked every parade, made costumes and hounded me about practise. She was the woman who taught me strength. To stand up for what I believe in even if I stand alone. She taught me life was not for the timid but for the tiger (her favorite animal). To go after what you want, work for it and jump for joy when it arrives!
My Dad was 48 and a war veteran. He was actually a POW twice and wore those scars for the rest off his life. I used to laugh because he would never get on a plane but parachuted on the beach of Normandy. I told him he could stay in the plane until it landed! Then I got the go away look! Lol! He was the fun Dad. He bought me first car at 15 for $300 and got me loaded on Rum and coke. I can still hear him trying to tell my Mom he thought I had the flu as I was getting rid of the drinks in the bathroom. She was pissed!!! Lmao! The car was this awesome little 1969 Datsun B210. 5 speed transmission. We worked on that car for a year. The deal was if I worked with him to get it together I could have the car for my 16th birthday and he would pay the first year of insurance. We had some good times working on that car. At 16 I had a car and a wonderful memory. Life lesson….the reward is worth it! He had a strange sense of humor as well. He once watched me fall off a roof into a snowbank and laughed so hard I thought he had a heart attack. Hell I thought I had a heart attack! He was also the guy that would lower me on a rope into the well hole to fix the pump because i could fit. Lol! He taught me to drive on his 3 on the tree 1975 Ford F150. Only took out 3 mailboxes which was pretty good since he had to put blocks on the pedals and a pillow behind my back so I could push the clutch in. Lol! My Mom used to get so mad. Lol!
One of his favorite sayings was This too shall pass! Whenever I got overwhelmed with an issue or was upset because of something happening he would say this too shall pass, another piece of bullshit might start but this piece will be over. He is so right!
I went for a drive on Saturday. Just to feel the wheels move along the road. Clear the cobwebs and feel the breeze coming through the window. I was so upset with what is happening. The upheaval and loss in the lives of the people I care about the most. The uncertainty of what is to come. I was just finding it all too much. Driving for me is like therapy and as I was driving along I could hear him say “breathe, this too shall pass”. He is right it will. How many of our rights we will get back we will just have to wait and see I guess. What will come after is unknown but for now just breathe and all we can do is take it one day at a time and see how it all pans out.
I lost my Dad June 4 1985, and My Mom Jan 4 2001. They both died around 5 pm and I know he was in the room welcoming her home. He was starving!!! He never cooked for himself and it had been 15 years since my Mom did. It is what I told her as she slipped away in my arms. She smiled for she knew. Although they are gone i know they still walk with me and I am still learning those life lessons!
Hopefully we will see you down the road soon!
Thanks for coming along on my Chipmunk Adventure. See you next time!
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