Dad off of Tractor now...

[KaiB]

Talked with my Father last night and sadly heard he has taken himself off of the tractors. He's had a good run, but at 87 I think he made the right decision.

Seems the fertilizer truck went right where he told them not to, he went to pull them out, the Deere got to bucking and he couldn't control it. I'm proud of him, but realize he's getting older and loosing a part of his life now.

 

[jinman]

"O wad some Power the giftie gie us,
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,

Robert Burns


Your dad is a lucky man to have such a gift of being able to see what others see.

 

[RedRocker]

I hope I live long enough to make that decision.

 

[AlanB]

It is still tough.

Last year, July 4th week, Youth Nationals in the funny motorcycle sport we ride (Observed Trials) my dad came up to see the grandkids ride.

He wanted to ride out and see the loop.

He had gone blind in one eye a couple months before.

We got about halfway out, we stopped, he said get me back to camp directly, I cannot finish this.

He got back to the camp and put his riding boots, helmet, pads and all in my trailer, said, here are some spares, I have reached the point where I can no longer ride...........

(worth saying here that my earliest memories are of hanging on too a crossbar on Dad's bike)

Course, my son and I went and met dad and went whitewater Kayaking on the Nantahala river a couple months later Couple months after that he was having heart trouble again, and the thoughts I stuck with was one of the last times I saw him, he was in the river, Kayak under one arm, other arm up as he was dropping into the next set of rapids saying "throw me the rope!"

Man, it is so tough for me to think what it will be like when he is gone, but it is coming.

It is great though when they realize that there are limits to what they can do, Kai, I hope your dad finds other things that he enjoys and can focus on.

Course my old man (72) seems to focus on his 30 year old wife for some reason a lot

 

[1bush2hog]

KaiB -

YOU are very fortunate!

 

[Champy]

It is still tough.....Man, it is so tough for me to think what it will be like when he is gone, but it is coming.

Alan - I lost my mother in 2001 at the age of 66; Dad went in 2004 at the age of 71 (cancer)........my brother and I found ourselves feeling literally like orphans, and were now the oldest in the family. No parents; no grandparents; etc.....even though we were in our forties, you immediately lose that old reliable life compass when your parents go....that easy conversation of "let's ask Dad" doesn't happen anymore....its all on you.

KaiB/ others - It's tough hearing them saying "no more" because life is changing ......but still having them in your life is absolutely priceless........hold 'em in your heart and bless every day you have left with 'em.

 

[KaiB]

Dang ya'll, I guess I don't think often enough how fortunate I really am. Thanks for bringing me to my senses. I wrote this about Dad's good fortune; having him makes me a lucky guy.

You don't know what you got till its gone.

 

[George2615]

I'm in the same group as Champy. All grandparents and both of my parents passed by the year 2000. Mom was 52 and Dad was 67 when he passed. I have one younger brother in FLA. who I haven't seen since 2000 and don't know how long he has since he had a heart transplant a few years ago. We have kept in touch by phone though. I was 46 at the passing of my last parent (Dad) and miss not having them every day. My wife and I did meet another couple who we became very close to over the years to the point we were considered family by them and their kids who are our ages. Three years ago within months of each other they both passed as well. Another great loss for us. Only one left for us is wifes mother who lives in FLA.
All I can say to anyone is to enjoy the time you have with your parents and siblings for they could be gone in a flash.

 

[schmism]

theres a part of you that at least wants to give him a box store lawn tractor to still ride around on if nothing more than to cut grass.....

course these days hed get so fustrated with all the widgets, levers, switches you have to operate just to get the thing to work......

 

[JC-jetro]

I'm happy to hear all this pure feelings made me happy... sad and a bit teary eyed too... but life goes on and we need to take it one day at a time to the fullest. My dad is 74 and had a heart by pass surgery last year and seems to be okay. I told him " dad you just got you carburetor overhauled so you should be good to go for another 10,000 mile ... I sure hope so.. .