Jim's Pond - Go, Explore, Contribute
"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence."

--Napoleon Bonaparte

Sunday, May 15, 2005

May 15, 2005

I was out when the call came from Mikey. His dad had passed. Died in his sleep about 9:45 this morning.

I never met Mikey's dad. A few times we'd planned to meet. Most often during our August vacation in the back country of Idaho. But things never worked out. Listening to Mikey helped me to feel like I knew his father. Mikey got his love for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, boating, from experiences with his dad. Of all his siblings, Mikey kept a relationship going through all the years.

The first time I traveled a dirt road with Mikey was scary. When the tires hit the dirt Mikey stomped on the accelerator. "What are you doing?" came screaming from deep inside me. "My dad taught me to go fast on dirt roads." was Mikey's casual reply.

Mikey always goes faster when the pavement ends. Family tradition. His dad grew up in Tennessee. He was an honest-to-goodness moonshine runner. In later years the family moved to Idaho and Mikey's dad ran a successful machine shop. 15 or so years ago he sold the shop and was on a path to the good life when his partner ran off with all the profits.

So Mikey's dad did what he had to do. He got a job working for the city of Nampa and led a simple, quiet life. He fished and hunted with his son and grandchildren. His family enjoyed his company. He will be missed.

Mikey and I finally got to talk late this evening. Funeral plans are progressing. The family has gathered. Stories are being told. Mikey says that he's finding out some new things about his father that he'd never known. It's a celebration of life. A time to remember.........
9:06:01 PM    comment []






© 2005 Jim Stewart
Last Update: 6/6/05; 9:14:21 PM

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