My daddy died on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. It was Thomas' birthday and I wanted to make sure he had his happy day. But my heart was broken. Today we said good-bye to Dad at his funeral Mass. I love my dad so much... I always thought I was his favorite child, but I rather suspect that my four siblings all thought that they were. He was that kind of a dad.
When I was in college, I was a co-op student at the General Motors division that my dad had worked at since he was an 18 year old college student himself. One semester, I worked in my dad's department, Transmission Service. Dad was the head of this department and had many employees. Once, we were all assembled in an auditorium for a presentation on some change in corporate policy. I remember the presenter gazing out over the large group assembled and turning to Dad and saying "Wow, Carl, this is a big group! Are these people all yours?" To which my father replied "Well, they're not mine, they just work for me. Except that one in the back, she belongs to me." Everyone looked at me and laughed... and I felt ridiculously proud.
My dad was highly respected and liked because he treated people the way he wanted to be treated. He was smart and he was wickedly funny. My kids bragged to their friends that their grandpa was the coolest and funniest grandpa around. Sometimes he was downright cranky. But we all always knew how much he loved us.
I am going to miss him so much for the rest of my life. I love you, Daddy.
When I was in college, I was a co-op student at the General Motors division that my dad had worked at since he was an 18 year old college student himself. One semester, I worked in my dad's department, Transmission Service. Dad was the head of this department and had many employees. Once, we were all assembled in an auditorium for a presentation on some change in corporate policy. I remember the presenter gazing out over the large group assembled and turning to Dad and saying "Wow, Carl, this is a big group! Are these people all yours?" To which my father replied "Well, they're not mine, they just work for me. Except that one in the back, she belongs to me." Everyone looked at me and laughed... and I felt ridiculously proud.
My dad was highly respected and liked because he treated people the way he wanted to be treated. He was smart and he was wickedly funny. My kids bragged to their friends that their grandpa was the coolest and funniest grandpa around. Sometimes he was downright cranky. But we all always knew how much he loved us.
I am going to miss him so much for the rest of my life. I love you, Daddy.
