Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

My Hero

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photo taken by my daughter Chelsea years ago.)

 

My Dad was the best (I wish every child could say that about their dad… wouldn't the world be a better place if that were true?)

 The man and his bike, in the cow barn converted into a motorcycle shop. One of the many bikes that stand in the stalls.

Pretty cool huh?

He was the Dad you dream about…When I was in the third grade and the teachers questioned if I was ever going to be a real student, my Father told me I had beautiful handwriting, more beautiful than his. I still cry when I think of this. Dad always believed in me.

When I was sweet 16 and rudely, blatantly, devastatingly, fired from my first job at Candy's Ice-cream Parlor, My Father went down to the shop and told the owner where he could stick his vulgar remarks. My broken, tender ego, found salvation in my Father's "No-man-is-going-to-talk-to-my-daughter-like-that," pride.

More than anything, I have known love. And have never doubted the power of that gift.

Do you have a story of your Father this Father's Day?

______

 

Comments

27 responses to “”

  1. Celeste

    I recall being in his arms, sliding my hand into his shirt pocket and looking down at his b.i.g hand, watching intently as he rolled my toes one at a time between his fingers saying, “Big toe, pig moe, dan whistle, pig whistle, PIE POE!”

    Reply
  2. Paula

    I have so many dear memories of my father Corey that it is hard to choose one. Perhaps one of my earliest memories when my father and I(aged about 5) went on a bike ride, we seemed to cycle for ever and my father kept asking if I was okay or should we turn back, but I felt fine and kept cycling. However when it was time to return home I was so tired my father had to push me home, his hand placed at my back, as I sat on my bike.

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  3. Nance

    Yes, Dads can be special. He was the one I went to, when i was in trouble. My Mom would always know I had another fender bender with the family car..when I would call, she answered, and I said with hope in my voice…”Is Dad there?”
    He was always there for me, with kindness, tenderness and love…mixed in with playfulness.

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  4. jackie

    You are so lucky…”more than anything I have known love…” more lucky than most…
    Imbedded in the love your dad gave you is the ability to find a man to carry on his tradition (FH,) yes, you are lucky indeed…
    Happy Fathers Day!
    Jackie

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  5. Sam

    You were indeed lucky,a good father is better than all the riches in the world. I’ve never met either, but in photos, Sacha reminds me of him, I think it’s the eyes. Happy Father’s Day Mr. Amaro, FH, and to your brothers.
    When my dad would come home late from work, he’d sometimes bring ice cream home. He’d wake me up by thumping me on the head with the back of a spoon, and we’d both go downstairs to have ice cream and talk about what happened during the day. He also gave me my first driving lesson in an empty parking lot, I was nine. Dads can be so awesome.

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  6. Paulita

    Thank you for the beautiful father’s day stories.
    My parents were divorced when I was 3. Each year on my birthday and for Christmas when he asked what I wanted for a gift, I would say, “I want you and Mom to get back together.” When I was 10, they remarried and have been together for 38 years since then. Last year, my dad thanked me for bringing them back together. Love my dad.

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  7. joodie

    there are more memories of my daddy than could be crammed in volumes, but here’s one that came out of left field and after the fact….my daddy passed six years ago, and a married woman with children of her own wrote us a note at his passing…..
    seems she’d gotten in trouble as a teen, and was suffering much condemnation from folk, and even from our church family…..one Sunday, that she noted changed everything for her, my sweet father walked past her and squeezed her shoulder.
    as simple as that.
    she wrote that she felt love and reassurance in that confirming squeeze, enough to make her hold up her head and move on.
    God bless my daddy….I pray daily for Jesus to give that man a special squeeze on
    his shoulder, up in Heaven. And I know He does.

    Reply
  8. Ann

    On my wedding day, just before we walked down the aisle, dad leaned over to me and whispered, “you are so beautiful, I don’t think I’ll give you away”. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I walked down the aisle. I’ll never forget how sweet his words were.

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  9. Rhonda P.

    My favorite memory is of my Dad driving us from Chicago to San Francisco every spring to visit family.
    I can see him in the car now, making up games and keeping us laughing – Lord that is a long drive.

    Reply
  10. Kathie B

    Reading everyone’s remembrances here, I’m all puddled up from missing my own father.
    I guess I most recall his last Father’s Day, when I phoned to see how he was doing (he’d been undergoing medical tests prompted by extreme weight loss, among other symptoms) and he broke the news to me the doctors had told him a few days before that he was dying, and had at most a month or two to live. The next day he took a turn for the worse, so good neighbors of his took him to the hospital (although he insisted upon walking in under his own steam, using a cane, instead of being wheeled in a chair). He died the following week (I barely managed to fly to California the day before).
    Farmboy Husband was just a lad when his father was killed, so Father’s Day has never meant much to him since then (other than when his grandfathers were both still alive).

    Reply
  11. Kathie B

    On a cheerier note, Corey, while you’re still in the US you might want to get historian David McCullough’s brand new book, “The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris” — about artists, literati and celebrities who went to the City of Light in the 19th century. Sounds fascinating!

    Reply
  12. bleu

    That is beautiful! My dad is the best, he taught me so many values and standards that truly make me the person I am today.

    Reply
  13. martina

    As you know, I feel about my Dad the same way you feel about your Dad. Such a positive, supportive influence in my life-more than he probably realized. He passed away 26 years ago, right after we bought a house. How I wish I could show him all the things I’ve done and hear “You just have to try and do your best, think things through, don’t rush.” Followed by “I’m proud of you and knew you’d be okay”. Dad was one of those people who could talk with anyone, make/fix anything, loved deeply and gave the best hugs in the universe. How fortunate I am to have had a Dad like mine!

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  14. denise

    yup,i have one of my daddy. he died when i was eleven of ♥attack. we had good times together as we were together each day as my mother had to go to work as he was paralized on one side from a stroke, but could still walk. we had a t.v. that went on the fritz and extra dough just was always available. i was to take naps everyday like any kid. never wanted to miss anything. we slept upstairs. many times i would sneak and sit on the steps and when i thought it was long enough i would go back into my room and wait. this one day i did the same thing,but that one day it was a visit from the repair man. so, again i sat and listened and when it was gone i would sneak back to my room. after some time, i came down and dad said that he had a feeling that just maybe the t.v. would work if i tried what i was told to do. i was to tap the left leg of the t.v. with my foot three times. and then turn the t.v. on and maybe it would work. i went along with it and by golly, it worked and i was so surpised and loved it. i never ever revealed i knew anything about the t.v. man. i think of that sweet story every now and then and i feel warm all over. Bestest,Denise

    Reply
  15. bramble

    I love your Dad stories and am so glad that love continues on through all of you.
    My Dad was not an easy man but we came to some kind of understanding and that brought me more peace than you can ever know. I miss him and know that my very weird sense of humor and the ability to laugh at the most outrageous things came from him and I am grateful for that gift I have passed on to my son.

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  16. Brother Mathew

    Thanks for sharing Denise.

    Reply
  17. Jenny N

    Oh Corey,what a dad, what a champion…just what every girl needs. I do love my dad, but that has not been our relationship…and as much as I longed for it I have been blessed to see the best father I have ever known in action each day with our three girls(my dear husband, of course) and it is indeed a blessing all around.

    Reply
  18. Bridget

    My Dad as I call him is my step-Dad. My real father was killed when I was 18mos old and my Mom was pregnant with my little brother. My Mom remarried my “Dad” and my little brother and I also got two older brothers and an older sister. They visited on holidays and during the summer. Dad always would call my sister his princess. I don’t remember ever being called his little princess. Around the age of 10 I told him I wanted to be his princess too with tears in my eyes. I felt so left out. Dad looked at me and said you’ve always been my princess too I just always thought you knew and he gave me a big hug. I’ve known since and I wish more people that had a step-parent were as loving and accepting of their step-children. Dad is the best Dad I could ever dream of. And I’m no longer jealous of the other princess.. She’s the best sister ever!

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  19. Marilyn

    You were indeed blessed! I have no stories about my father as he deserted my mother when I was 2, but my grandpa was my Dad. I remember times when he would have tear running down his cheeks just watching his grandchildren.

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  20. Picnics in Provence

    Lovely, lovely writing Corey and beautiful memories.

    Reply
  21. Jan – Gracie’s Cottage

    Oh what a hoot…I remember Candy’s! (My first job was at the A&W that used to be next door to Candy’s…)
    Dad memories…so many to choose from ..He took me to Orland to buy cowgirl boots at Bucke’s when I was probably in 7th grade…just me & him. Another time he & I went up above Paradise fishing & camping under the stars. I got scared in the night and ended up sleeping in the car. (I told him I was “cold” but I’ll bet he knew what was up.)
    Jan

    Reply
  22. Brenda, Walker, LA, USA

    My dad had that kind of pride also. He was the strong and silent type most of the time, but when he had something to speak of, the earth shook!
    My pie has to be “Pear Pie”…invented a recipe out of necessity when my brother-in-laws trees produced so many. Flaky pressed pastry dough lines a big baking dish sized pie with the pear filling , sugar, apple-pie-spice, with a sprinkling of the topping into the bottom as well with nutmeg to thicken the juices. The topping was part of the left over pastry crust, but with a stick of butter and brown sugar added, the consistency of oatmeal.
    My second pie has to be New York style cheesecake, need I say why?
    This fathers day, I would have liked nothing more than to have baked my Father a pear pie, he loved them. He was a great gardener as well, I miss him so.

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  23. Brenda, Walker, LA, USA

    To Gracies Cottage: I clicked around your site and loved it, thank you for the visit!
    I have met so many nice things through Corey’s site!
    To all: Have a great day!

    Reply
  24. Almetamail@googlemail.com

    Such lovely stories, my father was a wonderful hard working man who taught me so much. I miss him more than I can put into words. One of my favorite memories is from when I was about 10 years old. My father was raising me on his own and because things were often financially tough he would bring home bags of hand-me-down clothes. One such a bag contained, to my utter delight, an old mangy rabbit fur jacket. I thought it was the most elegant thing I’d ever seen. One night my father asked me on a “date” to a nice restaurant and didn’t bat an eyelash when I proudly donned my shedding and very patchy rabbit fur jacket. I can only imagine the picture I made, but my wonderful father silently picked rabbit fur from his food, which erupted in a cloud around me every time I moved my arm:)

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  25. Maura

    WOOHOO Corey! Now that’s a father to be proud of…good for him for sticking up for you and going down to your old job and telling your ex boss what he thought of him. I also love the way he made you feel like you could do anything…that’s what being a parent is all about. You’re very lucky to have had ( and still have) two wonderful parents such as yours.
    Maura 🙂

    Reply
  26. Nancy from Mass

    In tenth grade, I was caught in the girls room smoking something illegal. I was suspended for 20 days. The girls I was with were all seniors and they were not suspended. (I had it in my hand). Each day, the principal called them down to his office to try and find out who brought it in, they thought I was a narc and banded most of the seniors together to ‘get me’ when I walked back in school after my suspension. I knew nothing about this. My father found out however and called the principal and explained to him that “no-one had better touch a hair on my daughers head and that the principal had better make sure of that”. Here was a guy, sticking up for his daughter after she did a stupid, stupid thing (actually, what he really said to the principal, I won’t write!). my friends warned me about the seniors, but nothing ever happened. I found out he had called 3 years later, 2 weeks before he died.
    He taught me to always know who I am hanging around with because you never know what they are capable of!
    I was never grounded either during that time. I also left the school that day after talking to my teachers about doing extra work during the suspension to keep my grades up. My father was happy about that. Even though I was stupid for a moment, I wised up before I came home.

    Reply
  27. Dee/reddirtramblings

    Well, I have memories. My dad has issues, but he did make sure I got to NYC for my senior trip in high school, and he always told me I could do anything.
    Corey, thanks for reminding of his good side. I love that picture of you dad. As you know, I’m big on motorcycles. I know you miss him . . . .

    Reply

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