My Dad
Peter T.
location: New Hampshire
listening to: Too much of everything!
registered: 1999.05.20
posts: 3017
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Tough day today as my beloved 80 year old father, Jim T., finally succumbed to pulmonary fibrosis. I owe him and my late mother everything. Imagine being the product of Mr. Spock (with a big heart, and not so pointy ears) and Eleanor Roosevelt, well, that's me.Until his mid 40's, Dad was a conservative Republican, and a practicing Roman Catholic to boot. Like many of his generation, he was in WWII and a beneficiary of the GI Bill (even made Phi Beta Kappa). We had many conversations regarding his transformation into a liberal Democrat (and an agnostic). He bemoaned the fact that no one questioned anything during the years he was growing up (and well beyond that). He was embarrassed that he simply accepted the word of politicians and the Church. He stressed that questioning is essential, and reason, combined with a sense of community and compassion, must be our guides. He lamented the fact that the poor choices made in our early years can burden us forever, and that society must find a way to offer second chances. Dad summarized his prescription for a successful life in a few words: "Learn, do good, be well, abhor evil, work diligently, know why, and enjoy life."I've lost such a dear friend. I'll miss Dad's wisdom,humor,logic,unconditional love, decency, and friendship. I hope you are all blessed with similar, loving parents. I hope I can live up to the example my folks set for me. Thanks for listening DBIS. You're a grand group of people.Peter T.
Peter T.
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Tough day today as my beloved 80 year old father, Jim T., finally succumbed to pulmonary fibrosis. I owe him and my late mother everything. Imagine being the product of Mr. Spock (with a big heart, and not so pointy ears) and Eleanor Roosevelt, well, that's me.Until his mid 40's, Dad was a conservative Republican, and a practicing Roman Catholic to boot. Like many of his generation, he was in WWII and a beneficiary of the GI Bill (even made Phi Beta Kappa). We had many conversations regarding his transformation into a liberal Democrat (and an agnostic). He bemoaned the fact that no one questioned anything during the years he was growing up (and well beyond that). He was embarrassed that he simply accepted the word of politicians and the Church. He stressed that questioning is essential, and reason, combined with a sense of community and compassion, must be our guides. He lamented the fact that the poor choices made in our early years can burden us forever, and that society must find a way to offer second chances. Dad summarized his prescription for a successful life in a few words: "Learn, do good, be well, abhor evil, work diligently, know why, and enjoy life."I've lost such a dear friend. I'll miss Dad's wisdom,humor,logic,unconditional love, decency, and friendship. I hope you are all blessed with similar, loving parents. I hope I can live up to the example my folks set for me. Thanks for listening DBIS. You're a grand group of people.Peter T.
