Not here much…it’s been a rough 2025 in many ways, and I’m grateful for it. I’m totally fine. Haven’t missed a meal! I think I’m close to losing my Dad, who is my hero. As @B-Bob could tell you, my Dad had to overcome a lot. His father was at Alcatraz…Levenworth……serial bank robber and then some. My Dad decided at 14 years old he wanted to be the Dad he never had…and so then he was and then some. I decided my first year of law school I was happy to practice law maybe, but I wanted to be my Dad mostly. Anyway…ran across this video today and this is another hero of mine. I know it’s not a quick tik tok video so it maybe TLDR for some…but if you can watch all the way through, you should. This is what we should aspire to be…kind at the very least. Hope you all are well!!!
Thanks for sharing this video. He sure was a wise man who made a difference in so many people's lives.
Sorry to hear, Max. My dad just turned 86 on Monday. We had a great relationship until about 20 years ago when things inexplicabley went south. Doing my best to mend things now so I don't have any regrets when the inevitable happens, but it's not easy. Fathers are SO important.
@B-Bob was in Alcatraz? Jokes aside, I’m sorry that your father is in decline. My thoughts are with you, bro.
Sorry to hear this MadMax. I lost my father last year, and though I'm not much of a practicing Christian, there are vestiges of the stuff I was taught when I was younger still in me. My parents, on the other hand, are devout Christians, so when my father passed away, I took comfort in the fact his journey and any pain and discomfort were taken away, and he had reached his destination. It made it easier for me to make the call to take him off life support after his heart attack. My dad lived to be 89, which in itself was a miracle since he had a heart attack in his 50s and smoked like a chimney right until he had that first heart attack over 30 years ago, but then cut out smoking immediately. My mom is getting up there now, too, so I don't know how much time I have with her. I know I'm grateful for everything they sacrificed and provided for me including some of my outlook on the world and myself as I got older (which is amazing since I never thought I'd be "like my parents" in too many ways. lol.) I love Mister Rogers - there should be more people in the world like him - especially nowadays.
I am actually being re-assigned to the reborn Alcatraz (because over-educated) so will be the first American to be incarcerated there twice. @MadMax, thoughts are with you, brother. And thanks for the dose of Rogers. What this century needs more than anything else. Okay, my computer time is up for today. Back to my cell.
Thanks for all the kind words. I spent the evening last night watching the ‘stros with my Dad. When you’re not doing well and stuck at home, the Astros being on nearly every day (**** you Roku app!!!!) is a reason to be engaged. I remember this with my grandma who died of lung cancer back when I was about 15 or 16 so roughly a million years ago. My grandma and my grandpa (Irish af!!), believed Houston became a city when we got a baseball team. I’d watch games with her every night and she’d fall asleep….so I’d keep score so when she woke up the next morning and I was at school she’d be able to see how the game went. Turns out little things matter a lot….and once again the Astros are a huge part of a connection with someone I love who is dying. Last night my Dad told me he’s at peace with all of it….that he lived a great life and he knows what’s coming, And he’s at peace. That’s all I can ask for. Remember to tell the people you love that you love them. If that’s hard for you, grow the **** up and do it anyway. You’ll be dead soon enough, and your pride will likely die long before you do. Tell them that regularly.
My Dad passed on Thursday. He was very much at peace, and he reassured everyone in my family that was so. He deteriorated so quickly, and the blessing in that was that it was very clear that it was time for him to move on. He and I had a great last month of conversations together, and I'll be forever grateful for that. But I'm more grateful for his lifetime devotion to being the Dad he never had. It shaped who I am so much. Within about 30 minutes of my Dad passing, I got news from my wife that my dog, Clutch, had lung cancer, and needed to be put down. So we put him down Saturday, less than 48 hours after my Dad passed. A heaping helping of life in a very short timeframe. Some of you might recall I adopted my dog from Rocketgirl who rescued him in a park where he had been abandoned. Grateful for this community for that! Man, 2025 has been something else. But all this too shall pass. I still feel like I'm the luckiest person I've ever met. Thanks again for all the kind words and encouragement!
Thanks for sharing that, @MadMax. Last year I was kinda mad at the universe when we lost our dog and my mother-in-law (car wreck, yuck) within one week. But I like your attitude much better. I hope you can alternate focusing on each mammal and their places in the heart. In our case, we focused on Mrs. B-Bob's Mom a lot, which makes sense, and then the dog stuff, long delayed, kinda snuck up on me. Didn't really hit me until we just got a new one! Your dad is such an inspiring story. Take good care.
So sorry about your Dad, Max. But glad you got to say goodbye. Many people don't get that chance. And props to him for making the commitment to be the dad he never had. That's a BIG deal and can literally change your entire family tree. For the better.
Sorry for your loss. Didn't get to Texas in time to see my father pass earlier this year. Felt bad but was able to have my father in law age in ace with us until he passed with home hospice. I do not want to derail this thread but I have often wondered who would win a fight between Mr. Roger's and Bob Ross?
I'm sorry @MadMax . You are one of my favorite posters here. My ADHD prevented me from enjoying Mr. Rodgers when I was young, but as I've gotten older, I've realized that he is one of the wisest people that ever existed. A true philosopher.
