please read :Sail Live Laugh Love

[emergpa1]

Sail Live Laugh Love

hey Guys,

I buried my Dad today. He was a hard working, plain speaking country man; a creative problem solver. He could hoe, grow, tune, frame, pick, fiddle, write, paint, and dream. He was a poor, un-educated, self-sufficient welfare shunning, self-employed , farming American. A handyman, a granddad, a husband, a confederate loving all inclusive veteran. He told ghost stories that would raise the hair on your neck ,and that might very well be true. He was an incredible man that sprung from the deep back woods and worn out soil of the deep south. I learned my basic do it yourself skills from him. And I learned his patience only from enduring my mistakes.

He was buried today with USMC honors in a small non-descript cemetary in north alabama while sweat was running down our backs and tears of grief were running down our cheeks. The droplets were accompained by wonder at the brevity and intensity of life.

I can't believe i didn't spend more time with him these past few years.. What was I thinking. Sorry to be a bit of a downer.

Sail Live Laugh Love

Keith

 

[Joe11688]

Hi Keith,
My deepest sympathies and prayers go out you and your family for the loss of your Dad. He sounds like he was a man after my own heart. As a kid growing up in a rural area, I've always fashioned myself as a backwoodsman who liked to fish, hunt, and canoe rivers. My heroes have always been cowboys and I idolized Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Daniel Boone to a point where I wanted to be like them. My Dad was never into any of that, but he provided me with a good home with plenty to eat. As we get older and have families we all go our separate ways and get caught up in the everyday rat race. I'm sure that he understood.

 

[emergpa1]

Hi Keith,
My deepest sympathies and prayers go out you and your family for the loss of your Dad. He sounds like he was a man after my own heart. As a kid growing up in a rural area, I've always fashioned myself as a backwoodsman who liked to fish, hunt, and canoe rivers. My heroes have always been cowboys and I idolized Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Daniel Boone to a point where I wanted to be like them. My Dad was never into any of that, but he provided me with a good home with plenty to eat. As we get older and have families we all go our separate ways and get caught up in the everyday rat race. I'm sure that he understood.

Thanks Joe. He loved the outdoors. and would have loved sailing. We were never able as he became ill with a brain tumor that interfered with his mobility just as i got my boat. However i did get him to the marina a couple of times to see her. At the time we thought he would be able to be cured and we talked about taking her out "someday". But unfortunately the cure never came. I posted this as a reminder to us sailors that each day and each friend (including internet friends like you joe) is a gift to be treasured. I know we all know it, but sometimes we forget.
I went to the boat today to check on her. I was hoping to take her out but no wind and temps in the upper 90's had me packing up early.
Bring on the fall weather!
Keith

 

[estopa]

May he rest in peace. I too lost my dad this year to a quick illness (cancer) and wished we had more time together. But at 60 yrs old who would of thought it would come to that. I just got my boat a few months ago and wished he was on board to enjoy it with me as well.

Its so true what you say about each day and each friend has to be cherished because you just never know. Through this ordeal I learned to slow it down a little and smell the roses.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Re: Sail Live Laugh Love

Keith, Our deepest sympathies from "On Eagles Wings" crew. By the way you speek of your father it seems you knew him very well and more importantly loved him very well as no doubt he did you. Your dad lives on in your heart and in your mind and in your soul. Don't focus on time not spent. Focus on the time you spent and honor his life by sharing it with others. God bless you and keep you through your time of morning.

 

[RichBone]

I'm sorry for you.

Rich

 

[OdayDave]

Hi Keith -

My deepest sympathies on your loss, and please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. It sounds like your father left a positive mark on his family, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Thanks for sharing this, and thanks for the advice. We all need reminding from time to time.

Dave

 

[JonnyQuest]

You have all of our prayers, Keith. And thank you too for the reminder.

By the way, I believe that your Dad knows; he's watching from Above.

 

[LordNelson]

i am very sorry to hear of your loss, but warmed by your glowing respect for your father. loosing your parents is something thing you never get over, but the pain lessens in time.

 

[Capn Pete]

Feelin' your pain

hey Guys,

I buried my Dad today. He was a hard working, plain speaking country man; a creative problem solver. He could hoe, grow, tune, frame, pick, fiddle, write, paint, and dream. He was a poor, un-educated, self-sufficient welfare shunning, self-employed , farming American. A handyman, a granddad, a husband, a confederate loving all inclusive veteran. He told ghost stories that would raise the hair on your neck ,and that might very well be true. He was an incredible man that sprung from the deep back woods and worn out soil of the deep south. I learned my basic do it yourself skills from him. And I learned his patience only from enduring my mistakes.

He was buried today with USMC honors in a small non-descript cemetary in north alabama while sweat was running down our backs and tears of grief were running down our cheeks. The droplets were accompained by wonder at the brevity and intensity of life.

I can't believe i didn't spend more time with him these past few years.. What was I thinking. Sorry to be a bit of a downer.

Sail Live Laugh Love

Keith

Sadly, I never got to go sailing with my father -- I started too late, and he died too abruptly. I'm trying to make sure my daughter can never say the same thing.

Your posting reminded me right off the bat of a quote I love (attributed to Isak Dinesen): "The cure for everything is saltwater -- sweat, tears, or the sea."

On a more positive spin, now everytime you go sailing you have a true guardian angel to call on when things get dicey.

Pete
s/v EmmieLou (O-322)
Little Silver, NJ

 

[emergpa1]

Re: Feelin' your pain

thanks guys for all the kind words and encouraging thoughts. dad is in a better place and i believe that he heartily agrees with you all. I am really looking forward to spending a few days on the boat early in september. I think the weather will begin to cool a little and we should begin to get those fall breezes. for the rest of this month all i can do is put my head down and make it through...i work most everyday until september. thats ok, because its a little to hot, and the winds are too light, to get in much sailing. and my youngest son should be coming home for some leave. So i will have my little buddy back to help crew!
thanks again.
keith