July 22. That's today.
This would have been the day my dad turned 70.
It is hard to imagine him at 70. He died 17 years ago, at almost 53.
I could say many things about my dad. His name was Fred Griswold. Yep, Griswold.
He drove a truck (usually a conventional cab, Peterbuilt, or International or some other huge variety) for his entire life...(actually from the time he could stand on the floor-board, on the driver's side of a truck and work the pedals, he would 'drive' the trucks in the fields, at harvest times)
When I was really young, he hauled grain & phosphate...as I got older the freight changed to what ever could be hauled on a flat bed trailer. Then, eventually, he drove a refrigerated unit across the country. Actually, I've forgotten more than I knew about the details of keeping a truck on the road.
I do, however, remember all the trucks he drove. Lots of chrome. Always an attached sleeper with a closet. An Air-Horn. A cb radio. Lots of lights. Lots of miles. He wasn't home much, and when he was home, there was always chrome to polish, oil to change, tires to change or repair...and other responsibilities to keep the truck, both 'drive-able and live-able'...remember: he was on the road more than he was at our home!
Before e-mail, text messaging, cell phones...before answering machines and DVD players. When phones had rotary dials, and you actually spoke to a real-live operator on the line when you dialed long-distance...my dad would talk to people all over the country...I cannot even imagine how much that cost way back then, but, if he did nothing else, he stayed in close contact with friends and family by phone! That, for some reason, is amazing for me to consider!
It would also have been a really good trait for me to have inherited from him. Instead, I got the not-so-great-traits from him, which I will not enumerate here...
...One thing, though, he did have a way about him; he made friends easily, and he loved to laugh.
I'll focus on that ONE: laughter. I love it. It's good for your soul, and it makes great lines on my face...but when laughter fills the room, it puts people at ease....so laugh. Laugh!
Laugh out LOUD!!!--
Til YOUR Sides HUrt!
And, if your birthday is today: Happy Birthday!!!
1 comment:
I believe you did inherit his ability to make friends easily and find laughter easily. :)
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