tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21692775497089248272024-02-07T10:13:24.251-08:00An Ode to DadMichael C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03142323009507403739noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169277549708924827.post-74806973441916513692008-12-21T08:20:00.000-08:002009-06-20T15:28:58.518-07:00An Ode to Dad<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:19;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:19;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'GE Inspira';"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" >For Christmas – All I want is my Dad – My Hero<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" >Many people wait until it is too late to say thank you. Worse yet, many people don’t know they should say thank you until its too late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Others think the time to say thank you is when its over…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In another words, they eulogize their parents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" >I don’t want to wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want to say thank you now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So Dad can hear it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So Dad can read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So I can look in Dad’s eyes and tell him I love him. So he knows that I know what he has done for my late mom, my sister, for me, and for generations to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" >Dad is 91 now, and living with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is in great mental health, although physically he is slowing down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is a man of faith, a man of honor, and a man of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So here’s to you dad – my hero, thanks for everything you have done – you’ve lived a wonderful life….may God be with you always, here on earth, and forever after as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:19;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" >An Ode to Dad </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-: ;font-size:12;" ></span></p><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">D</span></span></span><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ad, thank you, thank you, thank you.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thanks for leaving your homeland in the early 50’s </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To come to America to give future generations a better life </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thanks for finding mom, and having 50 wonderful years together </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thanks for raising my sister and me </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, my father. </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">An amazing life you have lived </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Coming here penniless, you worked hard to get an education </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Michigan, and Columbia, two great Universities </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Your PHD is an accomplishment …</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I still remember being at your graduation </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But what you have achieved with your family </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Is you penultimate accomplishment </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, and my father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A loyal man you are, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For fifty years, neither your eyes nor your heart ever wandered </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Your fidelity is something that God smiles upon, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And so does mom in heaven, and sis and me </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Through thick times and thin, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Through rough waters and smooth waters </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You stayed true to your family.. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">That’s why I want you to know </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, my father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Loyal to your family, loyal to your company </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">28 years with IBM, from the beginning, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I still remember your Outstanding Contribution Award, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I remember working in Armonk with you before you retired </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I enjoyed our lunches together, as well as your advice </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I was starting out back then, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But your success at IBM is something I wanted to emulate </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When you retired, I was sad </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I missed going to work, and not seeing you there </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But you should know, I’ve work hard </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To carry on your good name, at IBM and now at GE, because </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, my father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So many memories I have of our times together </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When I was young, I couldn’t wait for you to come home from work </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So we could go to Barnard College, and play baseball together </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You would usually let me win, throwing me pitches down the middle </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So I could hit homeruns over the imaginary fence </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I still remember I hit 99 homeruns one year – the record still stands </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Do you remember? I’m still waiting for you to give me the plaque </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, my father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I still remember Nai-Nai, my mother’s mom. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">She was like a third parent to me. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You took her in the house </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">She lived with us, in our small apartment in NYC </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But you never had a fight with your mother in law </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You were a kindred spirit, kind and gentle, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You treated her with dignity, respect, and kindness </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It taught me how to respect those that are older and wiser </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And to care for those during the twilight of their lives </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, my father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I know the culture you came from said study first, sports second </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But being born here, sports was important to me </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thanks for allowing me to wrestle and play baseball </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In elementary and high school </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It would have been easy for you to say no, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But you saw in my heart, I really wanted to play badly </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And you gave up your cultural beliefs for my desires </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For that, I am grateful, and I will never forget that… </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, my father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I remember when you took me to my first sporting event </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Rangers versus the Canadians when I was 6 </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Rangers won 9-5, I remember as if it was yesterday </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">How about the Mayor Trophy’s game, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Between the Yankees and the Mets </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When I got sick and wanted to go home shortly after the first pitch </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But most of all, do you remember </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You and me at the Rangers Stanley Cup? </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We went together to Game 7 to see the Rangers win 3-2!</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">How special was that moment…</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dad and Son, seeing a memory of a lifetime </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">They didn’t win one for 54 years, and they may not win for another 54 </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But they won one for you and me, and that’s good enough </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, my father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Everything I have today </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I owe to the sacrifices that you and Mom made </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To leave your homeland, and your family, to come to America </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To give us a better future </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Your six grandchildren are the fruits of your sacrifices </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Your daughter-in-law and your son-in-law admire and love you as well </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But none of this would have happened, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If Mom and you hadn’t brought up Sis and me the way you did </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">That’s why you are our inspiration, our hero, our father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> <br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I see the way you were gentle and sweet to Mom </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And how you cared for my sis and me </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And that’s what I try to do now with my family </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To be a devoted husband to my beloved wife, Jeanette</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We’ve been married 21 years, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But have 29 years to go to match your success </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Our 4 kids are blessed to know you and Mom </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The values you taught me, I plan on passing down to them </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Someday they will grow up to be good young men…I promise you </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And I hope someday they will say to me what I tell you </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are my inspiration, my hero, my father </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dad, you’ve lived a wonderful life, and although your health is slowing </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I know you are at peace. Your time on earth has been well spent, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You’ve made a big difference in this world</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When the time comes, and God comes calling, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I know you will be ready... </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I will miss you, but know that you are in good hands </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thanks for everything dad… I want you to know I love you so much </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I couldn’t have been luckier to be born into the family that I was </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You are the best dad, the greatest dad, </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The only dad I ever could ever want </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Because you will always be </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My inspiration, my hero, and my father.</span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></span>Love Always,<br /><br /><br />Michael<br /><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:';"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282288319901689234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNG9Yv-36xznmLXHoqUdtUvdC9wDa9vKjJXdFtiX6KxGx4MDaTKy-2N_00OUpckTGcdCbkOTQP4WDGZAISAB7vYOV19UHV-DH2eYY1_TcQKttGZ2ldHdh20klMWCjFwp_QgXLYRpQZOA/s400/IMG_2227.JPG" border="0" /><br /><!--EndFragment--><p></p><!--EndFragment--><p></p><!--EndFragment--><p></p><!--EndFragment--><p></p><!--EndFragment--></div>Michael C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03142323009507403739noreply@blogger.com2