Father's Day Memories

This will be a different post on the site as I remember Dad through the years, including today... Father's Day in the year 2011.

Going back in time, to my childhood and growing up through the years, to remember Father's Day.
First recollection was 1970, a hot and sunny day and we had a trip to Grandparents place to celebrate the day with a big dinner.
There were picnics and other family get togethers as well throughout that decade.
As a child, life is always much simpler, isn't it?
I remember back in 1977, a family celebration and a trip later that evening to the drive in movies (remember those you older readers?) to see a double feature, including Ron Howard's "Grand Theft Auto", a stinker movie not anything like the video game of the same name that kids play today.
As life went on and the older brothers went on their way and started families of their own, the Father's Day get togethers were less emphasized.
Instead of the big gatherings, it became a backyard barbecue with Dad doing the grilling of course. Dad always enjoyed having a few cold beers and on Father's Day, it was a part of his day as well as he grilled in the backyard.
In fact, after my Grandfather (on Mom's side of the family) died in 1976, the bigger get togethers were not common anymore on Father's Day.
In the 1980's, it translated into a brief hello with Dad and giving him the traditional Father's Day card and a small gift, which was not a tie or anything else stereo typical of the Father's Day gifts we all see on the TV ads.
The decade of the 1990's was indeed different on his day as Mom had passed away in 1993 and now it was a trip to Dad's to visit him and take him to dinner. Dad had retired shortly after Mom's departure and he moved away from the Chicago area for retirement.
Through the years since then, my brothers and I visit Dad on his day and have the dinner and visit with him.
Today will be different as Dad, now 79 years old and having health issues, is in the hospital for today's visit.
It will be different indeed, as Dad has always been one to avoid the doctor's office and especially hospitals.
It's a blessing to have healthy parents that we can visit and help out as they get along in years as we go through life.
Here's hoping the tradition continues in my family as well.
So today, on Father's Day, here is a special shout out to all the Dad's out there.
"Happy Father's Day", and enjoy it because it is a special day with the only father you have.