This just in.

[Phil]

Hershey Pennsylvania is about 200 miles from here. My father has gone to the annual swap meet starting this week. He has gone to that all but maybe once during my childhood right up to last year. He would leave Tuesday night and stay till Sunday afternoon.

That was an annual ritual for as long as I can remember. Sometimes the whole family went but as we got older and had other things going in our lives he started going with friends as my mother wasn't that high on the show.

I think only about once he missed the swap meet when I was about 7 years old. Otherwise we never missed it, and as we got interested in other things my dad continued to go. Sometimes buying things for his old cars and things other times just lurking the grounds for the 4 or 5 days.

This will be the 1st year in over 30 years he will not be there.

This is the more difficult half of the year for sure.

[Classicblast]

I am aware that there is a swap meet an uncle of mine goes sometimes. Not as religiously as your father would go. I don't know much about it other than cars and parts or antique car memorabilia is displayed and sold.

I did not ask my uncle if he is going this year I know in his case its a sometimes thing. I see that things like this are difficult the first year after someone passes. Things I would not have thought of like his habits and routines.

I hope the remainder of the year is a bit easier for you and your family.

[Phil]

My brother put 2 of my dads cars on a double car trailer and headed to Hershey this morning.

[Phil]

We have gotten through 10 months without my father. That includes, Fathers Day, 4th Of July, his birthday, my parents anniversary and Thanksgiving. Only 2 things left are Alan's birthday and the of course Christmas. Well 3 since New Years can also be an emotional time. I can not believe we are approaching a year.

[Classicblast]

Those are the times to remember that you r father is still with you. My father is 75 and we are hoping to hang onto him for a while longer. I re read the original page of this topic to find that Phil's dad was 77 and would be 78 now. That's a close to home number and it helps that my parents came to the house for Thanksgiving since one set of grandparents, my parents obviously, do not live close by.

From Phil's stories I gather the kids are going to especially miss grandpa come Christmas time.

[Phil]

They are already saying that. You're right about his age. He died at 77 and would have had a birthday since. I can not believe we're approaching a year.

[Phil]

The 1st Christmas without dad. Its a bit hard to get motivated for the coming Christmas weekend but for the kids I will find the strength.

[Phil]

We are approaching a year since my dad passed away. I can not believe it has been nearly a year. Everybody told me how difficult Christmas was going to be but for me personally New Years was worse.

[Classicblast]

Wow Phil. I can hardly believe its approaching a year since your father passed away. If its of any value to say this I just know that you are a capable patriarch for your family and his torch could not have been passed into better hands.

My dad has turned 75 so he's not much younger than your father and one thing Blastgirl and I have done is make it so our boys have more chances to visit my father while he is still with us because you never do know.

You are luckier that way since you have mentioned that your parents and your wife's parents all live near by and regularly visit your kids and vice-verruca.

[Phil]

Sunday morning it will be a year. Well officially Money is the 16th but we are looking at a year since my dad passed away I can not believe it.

[Beangirl]

I remember.. Sergent Enforcer! ;D

[Classicblast]

I remember too. I also remember Phil's expression that the avatar was a descriptive similarity to his father not a super strong look alike. That being the thick gray hair. That was a well explained answer the avatar looked somewhat like Steve Martin too. But I remember Phil saying he picked the avatars based on that particular one looking somewhat like his father and hoping the avatar didn't liken him to Bill Clinton.

[Phil]

So as we all know my dad passed away a little over a year ago. Yesterday my mother decided to empty a safe deposit box they had for years.

In there were two saving bonds they bought for me in the amounts of $25. The 1st at Christmas 1971 when I was 6 months old, the other at Christmas of 1972 when I was a year and a half old. They reach full value after 35 years. I was not aware of these at all my mother hadn't thought of them in who knows how long. The safe deposit box ended up being an interesting time capsule. There ended up being some other interesting things in there.

I thought I'd save the bonds as a keepsake but on 2nd thought I have more treasured memories of my father than savings bonds so I cashed them. one valued at 145 the other at 122. So $267 for the both. The funny thought is that they are valued at about 6 times what they were bought for but it took 35 years for that to happen.

Its an unexpected shot of cash though. 1 can always use that so thanks dad for buying those bonds and thanks mom for submitting them to me. Your grand children will each get something special this week.

[Beangirl]

How sweet Phil..

[Classicblast]

Its very touching that something your father put together for you is paying dividends is great. You obviously had a great father.

[Phil]

Thanks.

[Beangirl]

I found my mom's cedar chest in our garage in 2008. She had put it up their way before she passed so as you can imagine as I was overcome with emotion as to what she saved. Pretty much everything related to our lives with her. Baby stuff, clothes, cards my dolls, my brothers toy guns. My dad's coastguard stuff. A very short lifetime of a woman devoted to her family.

[angel607]

that's a beautiful story and it's really nice your father left that for you.