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Father's Day 2008
I realized a few days ago that I have never written a blog about Father's Day. Never before, perhaps, has Father's Day meant so much to me as this Father's Day. It marks the first time that my son will be honored as a father.
As a kid my mother always made sure that we celebrated Father's Day. After church services we'd have a wonderful Sunday dinner. Then we'd go to the living room and give Dad a gift. A card. A tie. A box of white handerchiefs. Something nice and useful like that.
When I became a Dad it remained a special day. My father and I celebrated five Father's Days as dads together. My son was born in 1978 and my Dad passed away in 1983. My Dad, Ray Gagnon, spent his career with the New York Telephone Company, starting as a repairman before I was born and, through the years, moving into management as a Building Foreman. He worked a few years extra to add to his pension and to make sure that, if anything happened to him, his family would have something to fall back on.
Even though he was dedicated to his family and his job, he still found time to be a Boy Scout Leader and a Little League Baseball coach, join OLVA's Athletic Association and a church group. He always made sure we took a family vacation every summer. A week's getaway -- to the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, to Nantasket Beach in Massachusetts, to Cooperstown to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Shortly after he retired, doctors recommended bypass surgery. He was a 2% risk since he was so youthful and in such great condition. Sadly he never fully recovered from the surgery and died a year later.
As my son grew older I would look forward to a card on Father's Day, a few words on a piece of paper, saying what a good Dad I was. He never let me down. It always would get me teary-eyed. It was that gentle pat on the back for all the little things that Dads do to make their kids smile.
2008 marks the first year that my son and I are both fathers. It will be a special day. Erik and his wife Sarah drove from the Albany area with their son, my grandson, Ethan to spend the weekend. Erik and I will get to spend time once again watching baseball, telling stories and maybe even enjoying a bucket of hot wings.
But this year he'll be telling me stories about being a Dad. About getting up in the middle of the night because Ethan was crying. About changing diapers and worrying when Ethan just didn't want to fall asleep. About the excitement of watching his son eating a squashed banana for the first time.
On Father's Day we will be taking the first family photo of the "Four Gagnon Boys" -- Foxy, Goose, Big E and Ethan. There will be an 8x10 of that on my living room wall by Monday morning. I'm looking forward to Father's Day like never before.
There are a lot of great Dads out there. I'd love to hear about yours.
Comments
im sorry i haven't posted in a while but i say something hey foxy fathers and mothers deserve the most respect everyday! MY parents both work hard and they love me everyday! Being a dad must be a tough job thats y they are chosen so well! Each father works hard all the time! Most Kids need a father figure in their life and thats wat a dads for! I just want to say " I LOVE MY DAD"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Rockandrollsoothesmysoul | June 16, 2008 5:13 PM
HAPPY FATHER"S DAY TO ALL THE FATHERS ESPECIALLY YOU FOXY CAN"T WAIT TO SEE YOU AGAIN AT WHITEY & FLO'S CAMP OUT IF I GO THIS YEAR IN AUGUST
(Foxy's note: Thanks, Lee... Whitey & Flo's Campout will be Saturday, August 2.)
Posted by: Lee | June 16, 2008 10:39 AM
Hey Foxy...I haven't written in awhile, so I thought I'd add on to this one. Unfortunately, I don't have many real fond memories of my father..he was there, that was about it. However, I was lucky enough to have a Stepdad who filled a lot of voids. Jim would pick me up (in the early years he would actually pick up miss d and I) at the Grayhound bus station..every Friday night. That went on for years. He and I would head to the American Legion, where he first taught me to play pool and then would laugh as I would beat the old vets. :) He taught me to throw a bowling ball...something that became a passion for years to come. As the song goes "I hope I'm half the dad, he didn't have to be". Well, I got that opportunity. I first became a dad when I married my wife and her 6 year old daughter. I was a young 21 on my first enlistment in the Air Force...and when she called me daddy for the first time (her choice) life was suddenly complete. I strived to be, not half that dad I didn't have to be...but the complete dad I did in fact have to be. Then 12 years later our second daughter was born...all girl..but definitely "Jr"...way too much like her dad. Today we are visiting the oldest daughter in DC and the two grandsons. Life is good. Lots of great presents, but none came close to the works "Jr" wrote in her card..saying I have always been and will always be, her hero. Yes, life is good...now, could you please pass the tissues.
(Foxy's note: Thanks for sharing, Chief!)
Posted by: Chief | June 15, 2008 10:34 PM
Foxy, I have fond memories of your Dad walking by our house on his way to and from work. He was like the mailman, Rain, snow, it didn't matter. Ray always had a kind word and would most always take a moment to ask us how we were doing, or who were playing that night at Fox Hill. You may or may not remember but, our front porch was quite the hangout. Aways a bunch of kids from Rick Jeanette, The Burdo Boys, just to name a few hanging on that porch. Speaking of Dads, Mine was always hanging out there as well and doing things it seemed for many of the boys in the "hood". From Building mini bikes to fishing. He was always there. Thank You POP for a wonderful life.. You are sorely missed!
Posted by: vonrader | June 15, 2008 9:38 AM