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Just thinking about my dad and how much he has helped me along the way. My mom is also a wonderful person and has given me support and love that only a mother can give, but My dad though, he is just a never ending barrel of knowledge. He is retired now,a very young looking 73 years old, and likes to stay busy. He helps me on installs when I need him, and I always call him when something sticks me and I can't figger it out. I know when he does help me , it will take a little longer, cause he want's it just right. Used to bug the heck out of me, but now I know the way he does things, and enjoy and listen as he goes about doing it "his way". My parents have both been instrumental in life, by sharing their knowledge, and giving that push I needed when I felt like giving up. If I had it to do over again, I would want the same mom and dad, good and bad. I'm thankful for them both and that they are still here. How about you guys?
------------------ John Deaton III Deaton Signs&Grafix 109 N. Cumberland Ave.,Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101
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Hi John. Thank you for letting me say a few words about my Dad. He was simply the best! But then, I would hope everyone would feel that way about their Dad. Mine used to always tell me I wasn't charging enough for my signs. He would also point out that I didn't need to go into so much detail with outlines and drop shadows. I guess because he saw how much time I spent handlettering them.(he would sit with me and watch me work quite often) He died right when I got my first computer and Roland, so he never got to see my vinyl signs.(However I did make him a big sign for his funeral simply saying "Dad You Were the Best) He knew I loved my work. He knew how fiesty I am. I miss my Dad terribly. I need him. He understood me completely. He called me every Saturday morning. I know he is watching over me. I can feel it. He played Santa every Christmas for his Grandbabies that he loved more than life itself. And he died with a smile on his face. He was a remarkable man. I Love you Dad! with all my heart. Snicklefritz
Enjoy your Dad everyday you have him near. He may not be around tomorrow. Thank you John.(I can tell your Mama and Papa did a good job on you)
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John, I certainly agree that we are blessed when we had wonderful parents to form our lives, and double blessed to still have them! My Mom is 78 and Dad is 89 they still live in the town where they raised six of their own and a few others less fortunate. I owe so much to them that I can't possibly ever repay them. The good thing about parents is that they don't expect you to, but it doesn't keep us from trying does it? I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with them today and noticed that at 89 my Dad is still a good looking man. I sure hope I can hold up like he has, but I am afraid not! We think Mom has Alzheimer's. I am meeting with her doctor Monday. She is a real kick right now. She is saying things she would never have said in the past, some of it is almost x rated! She shocks us daily! She has always been strong willed, but now is downright stubborn. But it is cute right now most of the time so we have decided to enjoy every minute while we can because things will get much worse and it will not be a laughing matter. She was such a strong influence on my life. She has always been an artist and can make a silk purse from a sow's ear. I remember when I was 10 and we were studying poets in school. I had to draw a picture of Walt Whitman as an assignment. I was crying and begging mom to draw it for me and I can remember her telling me that I could do anything if I wanted to bad enough. "God gave you a healthy body and a good mind and you can do ANYTHING" I said that I couldn't draw that portrait. She grabbed the broom and honestly I thought she was going to hit me with it! She said "Do you see this broom? What does this label say?" I read "Lighthouse For The Blind." She then replied " If a blind man can make this broom then you CAN draw a dead poet and you WILL" When Mom gave orders, you followed and the funny thing is that I still draw old whiskered men better than anything else! She never allowed any of us to say "I can't" Dad was just as great. I remember as a child wondering why my Dad was not in the Who's Who or why we studied about lesser men like Abe Lincoln, Albert Einstein or the likes. Certainly they could not compare to "Honest Ed" and my Dad the genius! He was so gentle and kind and we needed that after Mom finished with us! Yes, I'm sure lots of us will respond to this post. I am also very thankful for my upbringing.
------------------ Old enough to know better...Too young to resist.
Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Good subject John, we all owe sooo much to our parents. My Dad has helped me on numerous ground installations over the past few years. Last year I had a double sided 4x12 pan face too change the copy on. The sign was 20' in the air and the edge was about 5' from the flat roof of the business. I planned to slide the faces out of there retainers over to someone on the roof. After getting nowhere with a couple of young guys that help me from time to time I remembered an event when I was 9 years old. We lived in a 2 1/2 story red brick house that was built in the 1880's. My Dad enlisted the help of his younger brother to paint the house. Uncle George had ladders and a pick. I remember how brave my Dad was, walking around way up there on that pick, paintin the house. He will be able to help me with my pan faces, he's comfortable enough working in the air. He Agreed, we got to the job site, I went over the plan with him, put the ladder up for him....and began to doubt me own memories! My Dad is 67 and had a bad heart attack 14 years ago, we almost lost him then; but he came back and is in great shape. But he went up the ladder reeeaal slooow. Watching him get off the ladder onto the flat roof I began to worry about getting him back down when we were done. We got the job done with the normal amount of hassle and headache. I went up the ladder to help him off the roof, by now he was practically frozen in fear. I held on to him and the ladder as I coaxed him onto it and it took about ten minutes but we got down off that roof. I felt terible that I'd put him in such a situation, and asked him about that house painting years ago and my impressions of that time. He told me that he was just as scared 38 years ago as he was this day, but my 9 year old eyes didn't see it! Stunned, I asked him why he agreed to help me, knowing the work involved. To that he said,"because you're my son and you needed help." My Dad is a bigger Hero to my 47 year old eyes than he ever was to my 9 year old eyes. A couple of weeks ago he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers. I love you, Dad.
------------------ Bill Dirkes Bethel Hill Signs Butler, Ky. Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.
Posts: 591 | From: Bellevue,Ky. US | Registered: Aug 1999
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You all are very lucky to have had great parents... not everyone gets them. My parents fit in that catagory. My mother is 85 and still can't figure out what it is I do for a living... it would require her to think about someone other than herself for more than a few seconds. I do envy folks who grew up with loving parents. LE
------------------ LazyEdna in RL known as Sara Straw from southern Utah 5 National Parks within 3 hours drive Red Rock Heaven
Posts: 776 | From: Aurora, Utah, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ya know, it took 20 years to realize my dad was right.. about everything.. =) (Remember, I'm 24.. hehe)
It's amazing now that we're both adults how we can sit and talk, discussing things like business, and listen to each other's suggestions without it being like dad telling his 15 year old son what to do. It's a mutual respect thing that has really made us better friends.
I even got him to sit down and figure out his precise business overhead, what he wanted to earn in a year from his business, where he wanted his business to be in 10 years, and got him to adjust his prices to make things easier for him. He complained about always busting his butt and never getting ahead. After I sat him down and got him to go over his numbers, he realized he was giving away his custom jewelry. He did some re-organizing with his business and now he's makin some $$$ I have never seen him this happy, he's had a lot of money related stress with his retirement coming up. He's retiring from the police department and now his plans of building a log home in the sticks is a reality.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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I'm glad that you are wise enough to enjoy these times with your Dad.
I lost my Dad this past April. He was a retired carpenter. I worked under him as a carpenter for many years, and then after I started my business, he retired and worked under me for several more. Dad never told me I was spending too much time on a project. His theory was, "If it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing right." I really miss having him around to help out with frame designs, construction, and installation.
My main goal in life... To someday have my children think as highly of me as I do of my Dad.
------------------ 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.
Posts: 2275 | From: Utica, KY U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 1999
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