Saturday, February 10, 2024
I will miss you, Dad
When I was little you played with me on the floor,
I helped you fill shotgun shells you wanted a son
You taught me to be tough, just like you taught me to never give up you
now you know dad that Eric wanted to go fishing with you he liked you dad but sometimes he was quiet and reserved
when he passed and I heard from aunt Becky I called you crying know it’s not true,
you picked me up and brought me to the house so I could spend time with my sisters and stepmom
I made you many pies and cakes in my easy bake oven you flipped pancakes for me every Saturday we watched cartoons together Tasmanian devil, bugs, bunny Wiley coyote wild Kingdom, always watched Cousteau together
you gave me my great love of the wilderness
You taught me, that the water will always calm you
to respect the animals the Earth stars and the universe you hunted and fished, but nothing was wasted
you put me on your shoulders, so I could see at the fair fishing together, in Canada & tippy dam ! Fishing and Boating in the Detroit river watching the fireworks from the boat year after year
dad you taught me how to watch the paths of fireworks so I would know when they were blast in the sky
You taught me how to be quiet in the woods so I could watch the wildlife undisturbed
We visited White Sands took the boat boat to Boblo
You hooked up a car radio to a battery in the boat. We listened to CKLW our favorite station
Snowmobiling in West branch, and all over
hunting for morels you took me into a herd of buffalo and walked me beside a mother moose and her baby we fed deer at Belle isle went to the zoo, played in the park went tobogganing and sledding. You took me skiing , fun at the Detroit zoo and Toledo zoo
watched Bears and their cubs went to Cedar point year after year you shot out the star and won me my Elefante !
we ate french fries with malt vinegar
You taught me to be like you honest and fair
You always knew the right pressure points on my temples to press and stop my migraines !
when I cut myself on that metal shovel that was just like the one you used
and the blood was spurting you whisked me up stopped the bleeding put me in my mama’s lap & drove me way faster than I ever drove an ambulance to seaway
When you got me into the hospital, my big, strong, fearless, daddy passed out ! You Loved me
When we went snowmobiling, & had a flat tire you and I were the ones that walked to get a new tire while everyone else waited
You taught me how to dive & swim
You took me on another trip to seaway when I ate the whole bottle of baby aspirin they were so good!
Bob Joe’s custard tradition Baskin and Robbins malted shakes in Trenton
Delivering Poinsettias to customers and getting my own
Working for you was so much fun, drinking Pepsi’s down without stopping mowing with my cousin Jo Jo
Drinking cold water from the hose
Thanksgiving and Christmas at grandma and grandpa‘s
Grandma had At least three pies, lemon meringue with 12 inch meringue and grandmas raisin tarts, we both loved it so much
Picking corn tomatoes, snapping beans, apples pears, plums, eating Concorde grapes with you Jo Jo and Jimmy
Sharing BLTs
When I was not feeling well, you would give me vernors and sometimes bring me home a malted
On weekends Fergie’s Fish and chips!
making ice cream with Jo Jo and Jimmy
helping you clean squirrel, rabbits and deer
a deer hanging off the apple tree
going snowmobiling with Pam and Kimmy driving to Cobo hall in uncle Bob’ Stitt’s Riviera for the Christmas show
Going to White Sands with Robbie, Pam and Kimmy the circus, yearly fairs riding with Beth ann on the fair rides
grandma on the zipper ride with Eric !
ice Capades
Watching the winter Olympics ski, jumping figure skating ice-skating lessons with Donna and our own Ice show
pom-poms on our skates from Laura,
Laura, explaining to you what someone saved my life tonight by Elton John meant
visiting Tennessee swimming and cool blue pools in the Tennessee mountains
Going spelunking when you went hunting, you brought me pheasant feathers my seal, you brought me back from Alaska yes became tradition with Aurora’s Seal
Cypress Gardens, Disney World, Disneyland, with Donna the pirate ride, flying into fishing lodges watching the moose and the deer run from above wonderful times at the cottage on round Lake
With the Gunnell family
Going with uncle Bob Rivier to the National Guard
Going underground to the brain center
It was amazing and seeing how they trained dogs
You taught my son how to be tough working for you
You held my daughter in your arms at the hospital before I did!
You Loved the kids so much!
Being your guardian, Dad helping you pass gently
It was the greatest honor
I have all these memories and more
You were brave, strong, fearless, funny I love you so much and you loved me back
You named me Fritz you made me tough
Thank you, daddy
. I miss you so much.
