Dads.

[stairpost]

I'm 48 years old, I spent 45 years of my life thinking that my Dad was an invincible hero that could sort out anything that troubled me, I then spent 3 years pretending not to notice that at nearly 80 he was becoming an old man, and that he looked like the sort of pensioner kindhearted strangers would help across the road, or ask if he was OK when out shopping by himself. Now I'm about to lose him I see him as someone I wish knew better, or wish I had the the courage to tell him I love him.

What is it about Dads that make them much more than the word parent could ever do justice to?

Rich.

[Stryder5]

Wonderful sentiments, very moving.

[struth]

I'm 48 years old, I spent 45 years of my life thinking that my Dad was an invincible hero that could sort out anything that troubled me, I then spent 3 years pretending not to notice that at nearly 80 he was becoming an old man, and that he looked like the sort of pensioner kindhearted strangers would help across the road, or ask if he was OK when out shopping by himself. Now I'm about to lose him I see him as someone I wish knew better, or wish I had the the courage to tell him I love him.

What is it about Dads that make them much more than the word parent could ever do justice to?

Rich.

Just tell him Rich. No matter the reaction you will feel better its not too late

[CageyH]

My Dad is of a similar age.
As he lives in a different country, I treat every time I see or speak to him as being potentially the last.
He knows how I feel about him, which is important to me.

Tell him before it is too late. You will both feel better for it.

[gninnam]

My dad had Alzheimer's for the last 8 years and passed away January this year so even though I told him what he meant to me, I know it never registered so make sure you air your feelings while he can still understand!
Goes for both of your parents to be honest.

[montesquieu]

My dad is 80 shortly, bit of a party planned over Christmas.

I took him on a trip to Egypt for his 65th - just me and him away for 8 days doing the pyramids, the Cairo Museum, Valley of the kings, a boat trip, Luxor - and to Malaysia and Singapore (where he served 2 years as an RAF regular in the late 50s) for his 75th - we found his old base which is a Royal Malaysian Air Force museum now.

This was really precious time, it's fair to say I got to know him more then than had at any point before. I got to say everything I wanted to - and I think he did too, in his own way - and our relationship has been solid and relaxed ever sense.

I feel very lucky to have been able to do this. I live 400 miles away and when I call (which is every other day), if he is the one who pics up, he hands the phone to my mum like he's always done (he doesn't like speaking on the phone much). But I know we are OK. It's a good feeling.

[Macca]

Your dad knows you love him, no need to say it. That's very American. For me, in a way, saying it actually somehow lessens the whole thing. It's much more than can be conveyed in words so why try?

My father's last words to me were 'I've never felt better in my life.' He was dead a month later. The irony of that still makes me smile; he'd have found it funny, too.

[WESTLOWER]

I lost my Dad when I was 17 years old, he was only 46 years old. We got the classic the knock at the door from 2 police officers.
I never got the chance to know him 'properly', I only knew him as my ol' man and not as a real person (i guess you do that later in life as a son)

Rich, tell your old man you love him, of course he knows it already but it's great for your soul too.

I wish i had just one more minute with mine, i had so much to say. Then he was gone.

[Bigman80]

I told my dad he was my Hero. It's the only time he and I ever really showed any affection that I could remember. It was different when I was a kid but my teenage years were.......feisty

We fought and I dreaded seeing him when I was a teenager. He was a good man but we clashed. Terribly.

We worked together doing renovation work at weekends and we would do 200 miles hardly muttering a word to each other BUT we'd both be singing along to the same songs on the stereo in the car. He had a great voice and I mean he could really sing. His love of music rubbed off and I love it too. He played the guitar out of tune and was terrible but he took great pleasure teasing me that I only learned how to play because of how bad he was.

It took the news that he didn't have long to live before we both just clicked. We spent every Saturday night that he had left watching Match of the day as a rule! And drank more whiskey than I'll ever drink again.

He died nine years ago almost to the day (20th) at 56yo. I was 28.

He never saw me get married, hasn't met my boys, never been in my house and never will, which is the saddest thing. Before he died I was a twat. Lived fast and loose, when he died I grew up, mostly.

I wish he'd seen it.

Say whatever you need to say. The last year I had with my old man was the best year we had for a very long time.

Americanised or not. It doesn't hurt to tell someone you love them.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[Firebottle]

Great post Oliver.