On 16 May 2008 I lost my Dad, a true shining light in my life along with my Mom.
He had a rough upbringing as he lost his parents when he was young and was fostered by an older couple in Cape Town. He was a juvenile delinquent who almost went to jail and was given a choice by a judge to either go to jail :buggedout: or to join the armed forces.
Me? I would have gone to jail :wink:
Dad chose the army and had his life turned around by it, later getting honorably discharged and joining the Southern African railways services in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), he befriended a guy there from Cape Town who introduced Dad to this guys' little sister and sparks flew.
They were married 51 years and they decided to adopt an abused, abandoned and unwanted baby and raised him as their own.
He would have been 89 today. I don't mourn him anymore, I just give thanks for a life well lived.
Thank you Dad for giving me life: miss you.
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
Well dang, Trevor, that was just beautiful. :smile:
I am glad you have happy memories of him. :smile:
Quote from: ER on July 21, 2023, 01:24:13 PM
Well dang, Trevor, that was just beautiful. :smile:
Thanks 😊😊🐢
Quote from: Alex on July 21, 2023, 03:15:47 PM
I am glad you have happy memories of him. :smile:
:smile: :smile:
He was a very good man who was a good husband and father: he had his issues as we all do but he rose above things like the PTSD he suffered as a result of his war experiences.
My enduring memory - one of many - is from 1999 when the archives held a screening of the movie
Shangani Patrol at a Pretoria museum: there was a full audience of over 120 people and both my folks were there, Dad with me in the projection booth and Mom in the audience. I remember Dad looking at the projector as I was preparing the film and he said "How the hell do you start this thing, son?" I said "Push the button and hope for the best." His reply was a simple "Oy gevalt" :buggedout: and he moved away. :teddyr:
Here's the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T5pcpzY6mE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T5pcpzY6mE)
i'm so glad you can see and feel " the happy".
Quote from: chefzombie on July 22, 2023, 02:36:17 AM
i'm so glad you can see and feel " the happy".
Dad was also someone who got major respect from everyone even though he didn't need or ask for it.
His pet hate: men who abuse women in any way at all: he married a feminist so there you are.
I will never forget in 1998 when he and Mom came to visit me for a weekend and Mom sent us to the nearby store to buy things. On the way out, we came across a guy who was hassling ladies at the front of my building and Dad approached him, telling him to knock it off. He told the guy "When I come back, I better not find you here messing with these people."
When we got back, there was the guy still messing around with the ladies. Dad approached him and reminded him of what he had said. The guy sneered at this old guy (Dad was in his early 70s at the time) and swore at him. Dad said "OK" and punched the guy out cold. One shot, hello floor.* :buggedout:
* Dad was a champ boxer in the army :teddyr: :teddyr:
Quote from: Trevor on July 22, 2023, 07:35:18 AM
Quote from: chefzombie on July 22, 2023, 02:36:17 AM
i'm so glad you can see and feel " the happy".
Dad was also someone who got major respect from everyone even though he didn't need or ask for it.
His pet hate: men who abuse women in any way at all: he married a feminist so there you are.
I will never forget in 1998 when he and Mom came to visit me for a weekend and Mom sent us to the nearby store to buy things. On the way out, we came across a guy who was hassling ladies at the front of my building and Dad approached him, telling him to knock it off. He told the guy "When I come back, I better not find you here messing with these people."
When we got back, there was the guy still messing around with the ladies. Dad approached him and reminded him of what he had said. The guy sneered at this old guy (Dad was in his early 70s at the time) and swore at him. Dad said "OK" and punched the guy out cold. One shot, hello floor.* :buggedout:
* Dad was a champ boxer in the army :teddyr: :teddyr:
he sounds like my dad when it comes to that sort of thing. :)
Quote from: chefzombie on July 23, 2023, 03:45:07 AM
Quote from: Trevor on July 22, 2023, 07:35:18 AM
Quote from: chefzombie on July 22, 2023, 02:36:17 AM
i'm so glad you can see and feel " the happy".
Dad was also someone who got major respect from everyone even though he didn't need or ask for it.
His pet hate: men who abuse women in any way at all: he married a feminist so there you are.
I will never forget in 1998 when he and Mom came to visit me for a weekend and Mom sent us to the nearby store to buy things. On the way out, we came across a guy who was hassling ladies at the front of my building and Dad approached him, telling him to knock it off. He told the guy "When I come back, I better not find you here messing with these people."
When we got back, there was the guy still messing around with the ladies. Dad approached him and reminded him of what he had said. The guy sneered at this old guy (Dad was in his early 70s at the time) and swore at him. Dad said "OK" and punched the guy out cold. One shot, hello floor.* :buggedout:
* Dad was a champ boxer in the army :teddyr: :teddyr:
he sounds like my dad when it comes to that sort of thing. :)
He was also the only person I ever called Sir. :smile:
{{{Hugs}}}
Quote from: Newt on July 23, 2023, 07:23:18 AM
{{{Hugs}}}
Hugs back.
Dad was also a veteran: he served in the British South Africa Police in the 1970s.
Odd that a former thug would become a police officer but there you go. :wink:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZbILmXs3B0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZbILmXs3B0)
Quote from: Trevor on July 23, 2023, 06:44:32 AM
Quote from: chefzombie on July 23, 2023, 03:45:07 AM
Quote from: Trevor on July 22, 2023, 07:35:18 AM
Quote from: chefzombie on July 22, 2023, 02:36:17 AM
i'm so glad you can see and feel " the happy".
Dad was also someone who got major respect from everyone even though he didn't need or ask for it.
His pet hate: men who abuse women in any way at all: he married a feminist so there you are.
I will never forget in 1998 when he and Mom came to visit me for a weekend and Mom sent us to the nearby store to buy things. On the way out, we came across a guy who was hassling ladies at the front of my building and Dad approached him, telling him to knock it off. He told the guy "When I come back, I better not find you here messing with these people."
When we got back, there was the guy still messing around with the ladies. Dad approached him and reminded him of what he had said. The guy sneered at this old guy (Dad was in his early 70s at the time) and swore at him. Dad said "OK" and punched the guy out cold. One shot, hello floor.* :buggedout:
* Dad was a champ boxer in the army :teddyr: :teddyr:
he sounds like my dad when it comes to that sort of thing. :)
He was also the only person I ever called Sir. :smile:
interesting, since my da taught that sir was a term of contempt after his experiences in the US air force. it took me a long time to use it politely as well as as an insult. same goes for ma'am. weird, but true.