My Father's Hands

Comment

Comment by Robert P. Meyer Jr. on March 16, 2011 at 1:43pm

Toby, Sheree, and Lisa, I love sharing your memoriesof your dads!  I need to put together an album of shots of my father and if I an get my act together and do it, I'll try sharing it as an album here.  I'm inspired!

Comment by Toby McConnell on March 16, 2011 at 1:33pm

I was awash in memories of my father in law who died at age 88 two years ago. He was a master plumber for many decades and had hands like your dad's. They are hands that have worked hard but are at the same time soft and tranquil. My father in law didn't cook daily but made the best home fries and his signature fudge during the holidays. He also played chess, didn't know a home repair he couldn't tackle, and published several how-to books after retirement. Hoping you capture many more images like these depicting who your father is today, a person still vital, unique and loved.

Comment by Sheree on March 16, 2011 at 1:19pm

Amazing the similarities.  My dad was a cook in the Army and taught my mother how to cook after they married.  It's a toss up to say who was the better cook.  He also made his own beer and stinkbait.  He was a fishing guide after he recovered from the accident as well as repaired small engines and cooked in a cafe he and my mother ran for awhile on one of the lakes.  He was one of six brothers who played dominoes and fished and told wonderful stories!!  Five of those boys went off to war and (thank you God) all five came home again.

I'm happy you still have your dad, Robert.  I hope you get many more years with him.  When you seen him next, give him a hug from a girl who still misses hers.

Comment by Robert P. Meyer Jr. on March 16, 2011 at 1:01pm

My absolute pleasure!

Comment by wiffledust on March 16, 2011 at 12:55pm

thanks for touching our hearts and bringing our dads back in our minds...even though they're always in our hearts!

Comment by Robert P. Meyer Jr. on March 16, 2011 at 12:43pm

My father has always worked with his hands.  He was raised on a farm, was a fishing and hunting guide whe he was a teenager, cooked in the logging camps of northern Minnesota, joined the Navy as a machinist's mate and became a welder for all of his adult life and went on to teach welding and metallurgy on the college level even though he only has a GED. After retiring from teaching he went on to cook in hunting camps in western Virginia and Utah.  I was blessed to work with him in his welding and machine shop for a couple of years and I learned nearly all I know about cooking from him and my mother.  Upon turning 80 years old he told the hunt camp where he cooked that it was time for him to retire again.  He is currently enjoying his second retirement and at 82 yrs. old is still spry enough to go on our annual Brothers and Dad fishing trip and consistently outfishes us all.  I treasure this man and will miss him terribly when he's gone, but will ALWAYS have him in my heart and my soul.  I am very blessed!  Sheree, I'm glad this photo was able to bring you joy!  Toby, thanks for the kudos!  Lisa, you're the best!

Comment by Sheree on March 16, 2011 at 12:26pm

Just love this one.  My dad was a mechanic; owned his own full serve station for years and was always tinkering with motors.  Eventually moved on to aircraft engines and came close to being killed as a result - tail flap from a DC10 broke loose from a cable and landed on him!!

All my life I remember the nail on his left index finger was split and no matter how much he washed his hands there was always a black grease stain in the split.  I loved holding hands with him and would always look to see if it was still stained.  He lived to be 77 and the last time I saw his hands there was still a faint black stain in that split.  It never closed and it never came clean!

Thanks for bringing back a wonderful memory!!

Comment by Toby McConnell on March 16, 2011 at 10:24am

Absolutely wonderful!

Comment by Robert P. Meyer Jr. on March 15, 2011 at 4:01pm

I think it speaks to their age and strength.  This shot is precious to me and I see a lot of history in their (his hands) quiet strength.

Comment by wiffledust on March 15, 2011 at 3:41pm

this is amazing. i can't tell you how much i wish i had a photo like this of my dad's hands. what is it about someone's hands that says so much???