My Dad (creative writing challenge)

I haven't really looked at these in awhile and only felt like looking at the first page ha ha, and this spoke to me. So, let's see what pours forth....

My dad isn't the sort of man that took you out to ball games, went to your choir performances, or any other such thing. He's more of the sit at home, read, watch old t.v., watch the news & get mad at the world, watch sports and expect everyone to stay quiet, drink his beer, hunt deer, and just basically do his own thing type of guy.

He was born on December 18th, 1952. He grew up in a tiny town that was and still is mostly a farming community. He was one of 11 children, originally. One of his sisters died at a very young age. Of the 10 kids that my grandparents raised, he was the only boy. I can only imagine what it must have been like growing up around all those women, especially as they became teenagers. *insert giggles* Seriously though, I am sure it was rough. He grew up on a farm, where you had to wake up early, get your stuff done for the day, and also go to bed at a relatively early hour. Back then, there weren't computers, cell phones, or any of that nonsense. If you wanted to know what was going on with someone, you wrote them a letter or perhaps used the phone. Though with that many people in the house, getting to use the phone was not an easy task. And, my dad has never been one who liked talking on the phone anyhow. If he wanted to talk to you, he'd walk or bike to your house. I don't know much about his childhood except that he struggled with being the only boy. He was close to his dad as a result, but not so close with his mom or his sisters. That estrangement has lasted into adulthood.

When he was of age, he joined the Army and was sent to Vietnam. Before then, he'd already begun drinking. Though as many from there have said, there wasn't much else to do when you got older unless you were the sort to venture out to the bigger towns. But, my dad has always been content to stay where he is. He likes the nature, the simple kind of life. Though being in Vietnam was anything but simple. I have never asked him about it and nor will I dare to. All I know is that it scarred him greatly. He came back with an even bigger chip on his shoulder and more ready than ever to drink his pain away.

I know he's dated, but not too much and then he met my mom. She's originally from Milwaukee, the biggest city in our state; though a lot of our family has been in the same town my dad is from. They met when they both worked at the canning factory one summer. And then, she got pregnant, more or less on purpose...without telling my dad. So, needless to say...my dad was very unhappy. He left her and then I was born, on December 18th, 1978. He tried to propose to her then, trying to do the honorable thing. She did consider it, but said no and when I was still little...we went to Milwaukee. And, dad of course stayed right where he was.

He later met my step-mom and they ended up getting married on February 14th, 1981. My brother was born on the 17th that next year. Another brother followed in April of 1983 and my sister came to us in August of 1984. I did not know any of them existed or who my dad was until I was 10. But since then, I have come to learn much about him. He is now a grandfather to my son, five other boys, and now finally a girl. When I met him, his temper was extremely fierce and he often reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. We usually fought, though he often fought with many people. He's also not the sort that will give you a hug or say I love you, but he will be the first to tell you if he has a problem with you. So, we've sort of figured out that if he loves you, he won't say it...but he will show it now and then by doing little things for you that he would not do for others. And as the years have progressed, he's gotten a little softer. He once told me right after I had my son that becoming a grandpa had mellowed him and it's definitely shown. We no longer fight, though he may grumble underneath his breath when he's annoyed with you.

One thing that has never changed is that he is and always will be a country boy. He loves the woods, hunting deer, sitting outside with a can of beer when the weather is just right, working on old cars, watching his old t.v., avoiding the phones and computers, getting up before the sun rises to watch the news, griping about the world, and so on and so forth. He will be 59 this year and while you can see that he's aged quite a bit on the outside, he's still always raring to go. He does what needs to be done and I reckon that he will until his time on this earth is done. While we have never been close and I can't find it in my heart to buy him sappy Father's Day cards, I can honestly say that I have learned a lot from him....even when he's griping and yes when he's silent too. He's an intelligent man who has seen the world and still loves his hometown. He's not Daddy, but he is Dad...and I love him very much and I reckon though he hasn't said it, he loves me too. That's my dad, complex and yet when you stop to look & listen...pretty simple to understand.