About twenty years ago I had come home from college to visit my parents and spend the weekend to celebrate Father's Day. Everyone was out of the condo when I arrived. As I put my things away I found an old small movie reel on top of my father's desk. Being a movie nut, I recognized it as an 8 mm film. Curious, I pulled out my Super 8 movie projector and tried to thread the film, but it wasn't working. I had to shift the setting to Regular 8 and the film threaded successfully. Regular 8 film was very old, so my curiosity was only increased.
Alone in that dark room I watched an old black and white movie with quick images of my father in a navy uniform, meaning this film was from the 1940s. Around him were numerous other people that I did not recognize. Knowing my parents didn't own a movie projector I knew that they could not have seen this film. I decided to work with my Mom to surprise my Dad and my family by showing the film that night at the party.
Just then I heard the door open. Assuming my father was playing golf I yelled "Mom, come here!" Into the room walked my father. Unable to come up with a good excuse as to what I was doing, I said, "Sit down... I found this and don't know what it is."
I turned out the light and my father and I watched the frenetic black and white moving images on the wall of his office. At once he was transported back to his youth. He was a teen when the film was taken. His voice regressed forty years when he spotted his dog. He spotted relatives, long since past, including his father... my grandfather that I had never met.
When the short movie was over I turned on the light and there were tears in his eyes. I asked him what was wrong. He looked at me and said "On Father's Day, it's nice to remember I have a father too." As we hugged I realized just how special this moment was between father and son, remember a father and son. I was grateful that my plans of presenting this movie with the entire family had been changed so that I could spend this moment with my father alone.
Happy Father's Day Dad. My love for you grows everyday.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
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Pete, I have been too occupied with the events of my life recently to have visited your blog as often as I'd like. To my surprise I saw your two blogs on Dad and Grandpa. It brought tears to my eyes. I think that picture of Dad sticking his tongue out says so much about his sense of humor! And I miss that (Oh gosh, I'm crying.) Theresa found the same article about Dad and Mom that Maggie wrote and she wanted to get it posted some how. I will show her this page and the other. Thanks for being such a great son for Dad. You blogs have touched us all and don't EVER forget that. - Steve
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