The Letterville BullBoard: A really strange day...

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Posted by Don Hulsey (Member # 128) on :

Just wanted to share with the family.

I was sitting here this morning thinking about the fact that today is the 14th anniversary of my business, as well as the 1st anniversary of my Dad's passing on to rejoin his Father.

Dad was a carpenter, and while working on my new shop today, I kept thinking of how he would be working with me if he could.

It's now almost 4 o'clock, and I haven't accomplished anything worthwhile today.

I didn't mean to get all serious on ya, but my Dad was a special man, and I really miss him today.

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Don Hulsey
Strokes by DON signs
Utica, KY
270-275-9552
sbdsigns@aol.com

I've always been crazy... but it's kept me from going insane.

Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :

Hi Don.
Dads are very special indeed. My Dad sure was. He used to sit and watch me paint my signs on his garage floor. He always asked me why I had to be so independent!
Well.....here I am, still Miss Independent....seven years after he died.
It is good to sit and remember our Dads. It is those happy memories that make us feel lucky to have had them in our lives as long as we did. I am sure your Dad was very special and is watching over you. I know my Dad is.
Have a nice weekend. Take care! Cheryl

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surf or MoJo on mirc
Cheryl J Nordby
Signs by Cheryl
(206) 300-0153
Seattle WA.....!
signsbycheryl@hotmail.com
A day without sunshine is like, you know...night http://signsbycheryl.homestead.com/home.html
http://mojosignco.homestead.com/home.html

From sharp minds come sharp products

[This message has been edited by cheryl nordby (edited April 13, 2001).]

Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :

Dear Don,

I know this can be tough time for you, yet you do have memories you can smile over and that is the best! I pray you and your family can find strength in the joy you share.

I buried my father when my first born was nine months old. (18 yrs ago now.)

...and both his parents three and four years ago.

It's a little scarey being an elder, but it has it's perks. Go hug em!

Wishing you warmth.

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DrQuill - Mural Woman
PEACE SIGNS
logodesign2@icqmail.com
Georgia, USA

Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :

You will find yourself occasionally in those moods after a fathers passing. My dad died 4 years ago and sometimes while I am experiencing some minor triumph or family moment, I will find myself wishing he was here with me.
An anniversary of a carpenter dying on Good Friday...another cause to reflect on.

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Wright Signs
Wyandotte, Michigan
Since 1978
http://www.wrightsigns.bigstep.com

Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :

Hi Don,

What a touching post.

You say you haven't accomplished anything worthwhile today.
Sure you have.
Your Dad has been smiling on you today.
You've made this post.
You've given the opportunity for some of us to stop and reflect.
Maybe ... just to stop and think.

About what we still have.
About what we don't.

I lost my dad 6 years ago ... August 5th.

While I'd like to say we got along royally,
that would be stretching it. We were both pretty stubborn, and could bang heads pretty hard. Funny how I miss that now.

However, we could work together well, ... meaning, we'd get alot accomplished, and respect each other doing it. There is no doubt we loved each other dearly.

My house is still alive with his presence.
I've even taken on some of his traits.
I value him for his accomplishments more now, and appreciate the good things I see in myself, that I know stem from him

Thanks for the refresher.
And Don .... Happy Easter!

Nettie

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"When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"

Janette Balogh
Creative Studio

jbalogh@earthlink.net

Posted by John Deaton (Member # 925) on :

My dad is still here, 73 years young, and I still ask him just about every day for advice on things. I also try and help him as much as I can, and when he wants something done, it becomes priority one. Don't know what I will do when that time comes. Sure do love my dad and depend on him. God bless you Don, and thanks for sharing.

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John Deaton III
Deaton Design
109 N. Cumberland Ave.,Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101

john@deatondesigns.com
www.deatondesigns.com

Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :

Yeah..............you accomplished something worthwhile.

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St.Marie Graphics
& Makin' Tracks Sound Studio
Kalispell, Montana
stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com
800 735-8026
We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)

Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :

There's very little I regret or envy of others in this life, but I do envy those who have had a real elationship with their fathers. You see, my father walked - vanished, left, disappeared - when I was two days old. My mother and I were still in the hospital, and I didn't hear from him or meet him until I was twenty-six years old.

To say that our "reunion" was difficult would be putting it mildly. I tried to give this man every benefit of the doubt, trying to understand the situation he was in and the pressures he faced, but it soon became clear that while he was on one level wracked with guilt, he never acknowledged any resposibility for his actions. His explanations were all based on it being someone else's fault. In particular he blamed my maternal grandmother, going so far as to accuse her of intercepting "all the cards and letters" he supposedly wrote all those years. Now I admit, my mother's Mom was a formidable woman - she had thirteen children and was a person of incredible strength of character - but I was astonished, to say the least, that her ability to interfere with the U.S. Mail reached from beyond the grave - she died in 1963, when I was six years old.

I could have forgiven my father almost anything, had he been man enough to ask. But spending time with him - several weeks, over the course of three years - left me feeling empty and sad and hurt. He wanted a to relate to me as a father to a son, but there was nothing there - no sense that he had any responsibility for missing a quarter century of my life, of having never paid a dime in child support, of having been nothing in my life but a faded photgraph and a big question mark. It was soon apparent that his whole life was spent running away from something deep inside that he had never learned to deal with; all I saw was a weak, manipulative man who never saw himself as anything but a victim of circumstances.

I didn't maintain contact; I haven't seen him in fifteen years, and I don't miss him; as I said, there was nothing there to miss or even care about. What I miss is not having any good feelings about having a father, what I envy, when I read the comments in this thread, are those who had a Dad they could love and respect and remember with affection. Never take it for granted.

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"A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)

Cam
Finest Kind Signs
256 S. Broad St.
Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379
"Award winning Signs since 1988"

Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :

My Dad is the greatest. He helped me do stuff at the shop today and maybe I didn't have a list for him, didn't matter, he just roams in and out of the madness here and we laugh and get along great! Someday I'll really miss him but that would make him mad so I'll enjoy him all I can and try to pass it on!

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Mike Meyer SignPainter
575 1st Street Box 3
Mazeppa, Mn 55956
(507) 843-5951
EMail-mikemeyer@sleepyeyetel.net

Posted by Daniel R. Perez (Member # 1585) on :

Hey Don,

I spent my day with my son and I happened to mention in passing as I was instructing him while we were making etched mirrors, how I loved him and wanted him to continue in my footsteps.
My father died when I was 4 yrs. old and all I want to do is guide him into all truth as I know it. I am very grateful of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ saved me and I want to thank Him for every person that I come in contact with.

As the Scripture says, "He that is forgiven much, loves much.

Now, I realize this message is'nt for everybody and I'm only relating to you as a father, a man and a brother.

May God continue to richly bless you and your family.

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There is nothing new under the sun. What will be has already been and has been will be again.
Daniel R. Perez
Daniez Dzines
Fresno, CA
daniez2001@yahoo.com

[This message has been edited by Daniez (edited April 13, 2001).]

Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :

I lost my mom and sister in 1988 and 1994.
My dad is still alive but getting "up there" in age, 83. He is quite a character, but deep inside he has a very soft spot that my sister and I can see.
I keep getting this thought in my head: I know he has some unfinished business with my brother, and God just isn't going to let him go anywhere yet. But the doctors and friends and family have been baffled for years as to why he has survived so many catastrophes. He just was so headstrong and lived a "hard" and adventurous life that he just "had" to turn his life around after my mom and sister passed, it just broke his heart to watch that.He is still holding onto some guilt and anger, and I am not afraid to post this in hopes that it may help others.
We have many happy memories (and a lot of sad ones too) but I keep getting drawn to the thought that is my place to encourage forgiveness among family members before it is too late. I stay out of personal feelings but I must say something in this case. It has gone on too long. I know my family is ready for this, and your post really woke me up to go ahead with my idea. As I was walking down to read the bb after dishes tonight, I saw a picture on the floor that must have slipped off of the refrigerator(a couple weeks ago) of myself, my daughter (at 2), my mother and my grandmother. I picked it up and came down here to find this post. I noticed the smiles and the strength of family in the picture, and even though I miss them, I felt a really good feeling of unity. I am going to call my dad tomorrow long distance and see if we can make some tracks and a new rebirth for the spring.

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Deb
Creative Signs

Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :

cam.....you had it beter then i did....mine learned from his father(came over here from russia in 1906)and used the old rule, "spare the rod and spoil the child." my father carried that on...to extremes.
as i grew up i thought my my name was S.O.B or you little BAS****! and he even made a cat-o-nine tail(this is a weapon of torture used in olden days, and people were tied to a post and then were wipped with this)when he couldnt find it he used a miners belt.
i hit 13 and was a big boy and tried to defend myself one day..well he dropped the belt and broke 2 ribs, busted both sides of my mouth. then i got a father figure in my life that ever child dreams of....a strong quite man who no matter what i did wrong never ever raised his voice to me...but just let me swill in the dumb stuff kids do(me and his son, thats the same age as me were like brothers)he had a dairy farm and 8 children of his own but always had room for me and a few others....this man died 5 yrs ago..and i still miss his presence.
back to my own father...while living at the dairy farm(i would go there rather then stay home and get beat) the guys son & i learned to box....i need to protect myself..and i had a lot of angry...so it was a good learning experiance. got to be 16-17 went home for a while and my father and i got into it... well i held my own...he couldnt hit me with his fists..and i let him know that i could hit back.....and that changed our relationship....completly...we had a lot of good times also and i tend to remember these more then the beatings(mom helped him beat me also)any way he died in 1969....we were just begining to be good buds....and that really hurt me...now things were great between me and him ..and now hes gone....left me very angry.
anyway....then in 1975...iam outa 2 bad marriages, been in the koo-koos nest a couple times runnin from the cops... i meet the the 3 father in my life...and he is responsable for who i am now....and he just passed away in feb.....
as for my father...we made our "peace" many a nite in sarasota...i would take him(in sprite) salt water fishing....something he always wanted to do but never did....and we talked about the things we shoulda when he was alive...on those balmy tropical nites just a "boy and his father fishin"...yep..ive had more good fathers then most.....and my only regret is that iam not as good as most of them....i have no children..but that was my choice...didnt want to continue the abuse....but now i know i wouldnt have.......

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joe pribish-A SIGN MINT
2811 longleaf Dr.
pensacola, fl 32526
850-944-5060
BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND

[This message has been edited by old paint (edited April 14, 2001).]

Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :

I miss my dad too. Alot.

On another note, hubby's dad just had a bad accident this week. He's bedridden with two broken feet and a shattered leg, fell from 2 stories high off a ladder onto cement. He's running into complications and we don't know what's to come.

This Easter feels different. Our minds are wandering as we try to focus making it memorable for our son. So far so good; we colored Easter eggs today and Cody attempted to eat them, shell and all. Dang, had to get him hooked on hard boiled eggs right before egg decorating time...

Know that many of us know how you feel Don. My Dad was the strong silent type, showed us his love through actions rather than fancy words. He was a gem. Sounds like yours was too.

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Graphic Impact
Abbotsford, BC, Canada
gisigns@sprint.ca

Posted by Don Hulsey (Member # 128) on :

Thanks everyone for your kind words, and for allowing me to share this.

My Dad was a great man, and lived a good life of 74 years. I am comfortable with his death because he was feeling good (he was getting ready to mow his lawn), and just fell down. It was a massive heart attack, and he did not suffer at all. I am sure where he is and that he is watching over me. I just really miss having him around, and yesterday was a little tough.

The most important thing is, I know how he felt about me, and he knew how I felt about him.

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Don Hulsey
Strokes by DON signs
Utica, KY
270-275-9552
sbdsigns@aol.com

I've always been crazy... but it's kept me from going insane.

Posted by Bernice Tornquist (Member # 16) on :

Thanks, Don, for sharing.

My dad was taken to the hospital on Feb. 27th. and the family was called in as we were told he had 24 hrs. That was 6 1/2 weeks ago...he turned 98 while in the hospital and at home now.

We just know that every day he is with us is a gift.

He still lives at the farm with mom and my brother...and still trys to do the farming. His mind is something else...a very strong, sound mind...interested in everything.

Thanks, Don, for giving the opportunity to talk about our dads.

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Bernice Tornquist
Bernice's Signs & Graphics
Nipawin, SK Canada
tornquist@sk.sympatico.ca

Posted by Karen Tighe (Member # 1541) on :

This is a touching topic.
I wasn't blessed with the kind of Mom who gave me all those lovely memories, but my Grandmother was the one.
Last week while painting a room in our home I went back in my mind to a day when I was about 13 or 14 and my Nanna was teaching me to paint walls. I let my imagination wander and there she was standing on a step ladder laughing with me just like she did back then.
It was comforting to think of her like that, for she passed on about 18 months ago.
(Thanks Nanna - I miss you.)

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The butterfly counts not the months but the moments and has time enough - Tagore

Karen Tighe,
Strandhill,
Sligo in the Wild Wet West of Ireland.

mIRC = cafe_cruiser

Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :

Wow... What a nice post! My dad was without a doubt the most unintentionally funny man you ever met...he didn't set out to be that way he was just one of those people that things happen too...I started writing down the stories I could remember after he died. My kids will get a chuckle from them I'm sure...I just did it as a way to remember him. I have his silver B.P.O.E. "Elks" ring with a broken tourquoise stone thats held in place with epoxy...I wear it when I want to be close to him (Patsee always knows when I miss him)and invariably someone always suggests I get the stone replaced...I always tell them,"But then it wouldn't be the same,It's a perfect reminder of who he was...kinda broken but able to keep it together". Someday I'll share some "Judd" stories here.I guarantee you'll be smilin when I get thru! Thanx for making me think about him...think I'll wear his ring tonite.

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Monte Jumper
SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla.

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