A Son Reminisces about His Father

My brother, Tom Doyle, contacted me to remind me that today, August 15,  would have been our Dad's birthday. Our Dad died in 1995.

He shared his memories...

I remember Dad going around the house stating emphatically again and again that “If you act enthusiastic.. YOU WILL BE ENTHUSIASTIC!!!” It was the Dale Carnegie motto.

I also remember mom thinking that dad was not quite as funny as he thought. ”Dennis, you laugh at your own jokes” (I get a little of that around my house).

I remember dad practicing his “bowling” in the front room. a one, two, three—release. I remember dad getting a small trophy for the most improved bowler (sports were never his forte). I think the trophy was a bronze belt buckle or …I might be dreaming.

He was a good hunter and a good beer drinking fisherman who never caught a fish, regardless if it was at Lake Estes or on the farm.

I remember his observations about shopping.”Have you ever seen so much stuff that you don’t need?”

And his insight on the costs of things “It’s higher that a Cat’s back!”

Comments

[Donna Miller]

I laugh at my own jokes too, Kate, which makes my family laugh at ME. I figure if I don't think what I say is funny, no one else will ether. So, I crack myself up! Donna

[Sale Pandora Jewellery]

Good stuff as per usual, thanks. I do hope this kind of thing gets more exposure.

[JULIA]

Hello, I am a 23 year old female who misses how my dad was before he got this disease. Please help me find ways to make him laugh and feel like he is still my superhero and the guy I looked up to when I was younger. HE FEELS LIKE HE CANNOT DO ANYTHING AND I NEED TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE HIM BELIEVE HE STILL IS GREAT AND WONDERFUL that hasn't changed even if other things like his walk, memory, and facial expressions have. i miss his smile I miss that. IS THERE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH FATHERS OUT THERE I NEED SOME GOOD IDEAS OF WHERE TO LOOK FOR BLOGS THAT WILL OFFER ME SOME ADVICE.

[JULIA]

PLEASE REPLY TO [email protected]

I WOULD APPRECIATE ANYTHING Y0U MAY KNOW ABOUT IN TERMS OF
ONLINE SUPPORT

FOR ME, A DAUGHTER WHO NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO DIFFERENT TO HAVE THE ANSWER IF I CAN CHANGE MY DADS FRUSTRATED AND IRRATIONAL WAY HE HAS BEEN TREATING ME BECAUSE OF HIS FRUSTRATIONS WITH THIS DISEASE BECAUSE I FEEL THAT KINDNESS AND PATIENCE ARE NOT ENOUGH AND THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF IT HE STILL SEEMS TO BE ANGRY WHENEVER I SPEND TIME WITH HIM OR WHENEVER WE TALK.

IT SEEMS THAT KINDNESS STILL WONT BE ENOUGH
I CANNOT BUT NEED TO KNOW IF I HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT PARKINSONS IS WHY HE HAS BECOME THIS WAY AND THIS IS HOW HE IS RESPONDING TO THE CHANGES IN HIS BRAIN? IS THIS HOW ITS GOING TIO BE
ANGER
IRRATIONAL
AND BLAME
SHIFTED TO ME

OR CAN I TRY TO COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY AND CHANGE HSI FRUSTRATION AND ANGER AT THE DISEASE FROM BEING DISHED TO ME WHEN WE TALK?

ANY COMMUNICATION TIPS FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH A FAMILY MEMBER WITH THIS DISEASE.