Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Sometimes life lays it on really thick, just like a Nicholas Sparks novel.

My dad's birthday was on Monday. I dealt with it pretty well, considering I had other issues that were driving me batshit crazy to focus on at the time. I didn't want to dwell on it; I've tried very hard to keep myself together since he died. I don't know if that's what I should be doing, but that's what I've been attempting to, anyway. I've thought about him a lot, obviously, but I've tried not to be too sad about it because I don't think he'd want me to be.

I was telling John last night that my biggest fear is that I won't be able to get the image I have of him out of my head. When I think about him, I don't remember what he looked like two years ago, or last Christmas; I only see what he looked like a month and a half a good, a few days before he died. I'm trying very hard to think about those good memories and images, instead, and I want to share this story because I think it helps me, at least.

My dad worked for the Coca-Cola bottling plant in town for about thirty years. He drove all over the area - sometimes driving a hundred miles a day - fixing Coke machines and fountain units. That's how he met so many people; he knew every single shop and restaurant owner so well that they wouldn't have a problem calling him at home with a problem (much to his dismay).

He also made signs for businesses, those old-fashioned metal signs with the name in huge white lettering framed by two Coke logos. These were all over the place back home.

My dad returned to work at the end of last year when he went into remission, and he left work shortly after he discovered that the cancer had returned. But one of the last projects he worked on was a new metal sign for Driftwood, which is my parents' favorite restaurant in the area (it's owned by a couple they knew back in high school, of course).

The Coke plant had phased out the signs (like they did the bottling several years ago), but after Pam and Spencer, the owners of Driftwood, practically begged for him to make them a new one, my dad agreed. When he finished the sign, he signed his name at the bottom, which happens to be centered right above the front door of the building. He said he did it so that whenever my mom goes to dinner at Driftwood, she'll know he's with her.



And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a goddamn love story.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

great post. seriously.

katiebakes said...

I'm so sorry to read about your father but I wanted to say that this was incredibly touching and well written.

Anonymous said...

crying...

Bear said...

That is a really great love story.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad and hope you're doing okay. You write about it very well.

Laurie said...

this made me cry, tyler. your parents are the greatest. i love remembering your mom talking about your dad dating that little ho down the street...
love.

Anonymous said...

Your dad sounds like he was a really great guy :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing! :) Your parents look great in the picture -- especially your dad. He just looks so happy.

Driftwood was my dad's favorite restaurant, too. It was quite a car ride for us from Stratford Harbour, but we celebrated his birthdays there. I hope your mom continues to go back.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you have continued to blog about all of this. Not only are you sharing your experience with everyone, but the memory of you father is becoming indefinate.

Anonymous said...

Pardon me: indefinite. That's better.

Broady said...

Holy crap. That was lovely. You sucker punched me, kid. Didn't see that coming... and that photo. Whew.

Anonymous said...

I remember you telling me once freshmen year about watching A League of Their Own with your dad, and he told you he wasn't crying, he just had dust in his eye or something. I thought your dad was like a big affable teddy bear.

Jen said...

Truly a love story, which I bet you're very grateful to be part of. Lovely pic.