Monday, December 29, 2008

Rest in Peace

On December 28th, 2003, my father passed away after a two year battle with cancer. Yesterday marked the five year anniversary of his passing. There are many people like me who have lost a loved one around the holidays. It forever changes the mood, not to mention that the older we get the more the holidays are surrounded with memories of those who are no longer with us. This post is a tribute to my father and his life.

Baby picture.
With his best friend, on their way to school.
My father grew up in North Hollywood.
Dad's on the left.
At 18.

1939. He really liked his cars.
WWII veteran.
He left high school after the first semester of his senior year.
He was barely 18 years old.
My Dad, my sisters, and I.
I'm the middle child.
Family cat, Tank.
Dad with his family - my two aunts, my uncle.
Dad was a film editor. This is circa 1980's.
On several occasions Dad rented a beach house on the North Shore so that we could have a family reunion. This video reminds me of that and it's for him.


May he be as happy and content in the after life as he is in this picture. Here's to dad. God bless.

30 comments:

Mama Dawg said...

God Bless your dad. That was touching.

essbesee said...

Uggh. I lost my father when I was fourteen, I know how the anniversary of his death is for me, so I am thinking about you. What a handsome young guy he was, I love those photos of him with his car.

Pseudo said...

mama - thankyou for that.

essee - he loved his cars, I had more shots of him with cars when he was young and had to pick.

Kristan said...

A lovely tribute. I'm sorry for your loss, though I know it isn't recent. I dread the day...

Actually I got kind of freaked out because during our Christmas Day dinner with friends, an employee called to say he wouldn't be able to come in to work the next day (a "make-up session" if you will) because his sister was being Life Flight-ed to the hospital. Her chest was hurting, and this was a few weeks after a major operation on her heart. Twenty minutes later, he called back to say she'd passed away en route.

I can't even imagine how hard it is to lose someone that close to you (as I haven't had to yet...) especially at the holidays. :\

You both are very strong.

Kristan said...

Also, sorry if this is inappropriate, but your dad was a very handsome young man. I love the 1939 car shot in particular.

K Dubs said...

Pseudo - what a great tribute to your dad and his life. And he was a handsome guy! Loved the pictures - thanks for sharing!
It's tough to lose anyone - especially around the holidays, though. It just makes it that much tougher. :(

That Janie Girl said...

What a beautiful tribute to your dad. Thanks for sharing!

Robin said...

That was a lovely tribute. Empty seats certainly are more conspicuous at the holidays....

No fair making me cry with the video.

Pseudo said...

kristan- i'm so sorry about your friend. And you are not being inappropriate. My dad would have liked the compliment.

kathy and janie - thank-you.

robin - i am so sorry. sending rainbows now.

cheatymoon said...

That's beautiful, Pseudo.

And I am also chiming in with the handsome guy next to the car comment.

Thank you for sharing something so close to you.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post! Very touching. He looks so happy in all the photos and it sounds like he had a wonderful life. Much more so because he was so loved. This is a great tribute!

Ann Imig said...

We pay such a high price for loving. Sigh. Beautiful photos and tribute.

Anonymous said...

Lovely tribute, i bet my dad would love the song, sounds just like the kind of stuff he enjoys...

and your dad?...great smile! i must say....

but what is it with the guys and their cars...at my aunt's 75th b'day party Saturday, i listened to her husband speak about their milestones together and altho he couldn't always remember all the details of time and place etc...he always knew and mentioned what car he owned at the time...hilarious!

and now i'm off to sedivate (word veri) myself with more Bailey's...and i'll raise a glass to your dad! Cheers!

Unknown said...

Such a beautiful tribute of photos and feelings. The vibrance of his life truly was evident in the black and white photos. Thank you for sharing this. My dad has not been well, and I cherish each moment that I have with him...hoping they will keep lasting.

Much love, especially this time of year.

Casey said...

So sorry to hear about your dad. The pictures were great, I love seeing pictures through the years.
I know what you mean about losing a loved one close to the holidays. Thanksgiving is never the same for us since my Gram passed away right before it.

Mrsbear said...

I'm sorry you're missing him, especially this time of year. What a lovely photo tribute though. He had a lovely smile. You'll be in my thoughts.

derfina said...

God bless.

Beautiful tribute.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

What a loving and lovely tribute to your father. I know you must miss him terribly. It's almost 5 years for my mom now and I still miss her more everyday especially at this time of year.

Very cool car pictures.

♥ Braja said...

I love these kinds of posts...a little more of someone revealed. It's brave and good and sensitive, sounds like you got some traits from your dad...he just *looks* like that...

Pseudo said...

movie - thank-you and I like your new icon.

24 - he had a good life, he didn't always realize that, but he did.

ann - that's so true. I guess it could be an even higher price for not loving.

thistle - i was looking at the pics of my dad always posing by his cars and i kept thinking how much it remeinded me of my husband. He's always in the garage wiping down a car.

supernova - that's a cool comment coming from a photographer such as yourself.

casey - yes, it makes it a little sad.

mrs bear - thanks for stopping by and welcome.

derfina - thank-you

SMB - i love the stuff you put up on your post about Lucy.

braja - I went up to the North Shore today, because that's where I spent a lot of time with my dad the last few visits. Saw an amazing rainbow and an incredible sunset.

Joanie said...

That was lovely. Thank you for sharing your Dad's life with us.
(so many of those pics reminds me of my dad)

Anonymous said...

This was just lovely and so touching. I know how you feel - we lost my mother on December 29 and buried her on January 1, so that day, more than Christmas, is melancholy for us.

(((Hugs)))

The Blonde Duck said...

God bless. That's rough. You're in my thoughts.

Queen Bee said...

My Nana just passed away this September three days after my birthday. They're always with us.

Pseudo said...

Joanie - Isn't that interesting that our dads ar ealike in their pictures?

Jan - so sorry about your mom. New year's day is a hard one to be reminded.

duck - thank-you.

QB - so sorry about your nana. Mine's been gone 18 years and I still miss her.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful tribute. A loss of a parent is something that never truly heals but I can see how much you loved him and how vivacious he seemed to be in life.

Laura said...

These pictures of him are priceless. I love the older ones..what a handsome young man!!!

thank you for this post. It was a pleasure to be introduced to your dad.

Just B said...

Thank you for sharing the pictures and the memories. I hope he was very proud of you. You are remarkable person.

Beth said...

You are right about how a death at the holidays will affect you every year at that time. My dad died the day after Christmas in 1979. He was only 36 years old and had a brain tumor. It is hard to believe that he has been gone so long.

I really love the pictures and the story you told of your father. It is a good reminder to appreciate all the ones we love each and every day.

Thanks for sharing your dad's story.

rachaelgking said...

This is beautiful. I can't imagine how painful it must be to lose a parent... Thank you for sharing this story with us.