This Father's Day weekend had me thinking that somehow I've never really shared my dad with you guys!
Dad's home is the same one I was raised in way up in northern Minnesota. We are Iron Rangers. He burns wood to heat his house and stays physically fit from all the exercise it takes to chop and pile and constantly manage the fuel supply. My childhood chores involved "piling wood" and "throwing wood." Piling wood is the process of neatly stacking it after it's split so that it dries out properly. This is measured in cords. Throwing wood is when you take a bunch off the pile and "throw" it into the house to burn. Our home has a big wood box built around a basement window that's removed and used as a portal to transfer the wood from the outside in.
Dad doesn't only burn wood, he works with wood. When he retired he built his own "wood shop" that has an antique cast iron stove that he drove all the way to Canada to get. In the winter if you pull in to visit dad, he might have soup, stew or chili cooking on his stove while he's building something. In the summer, he likely has a fire going in a huge iron ring outside that he cooks over. The shop fridge is likely stocked with tons of drink boxes, beer, soda and sometimes fishing leeches.
There's a lot of equipment around the farm, many vehicles and tractors having names like "Old Brown." Kids always get rides if they stop by when the tractors are out. Dad used to move snow with a little red tractor when we were kids. Now that he's older he has a plow for a "work" truck so that he gets to sit in a heated cab while he gets his work done.
There's a big field behind his house where on special occasions he would get out an old wooden baseball bat and tirelessly hit us pop flies until every kid had a turn at catching one. He'd never quit until we actually caught one, we never ended on a dropped ball.
My greatest dad memory is when one winter our school bus got stuck. The weather was so horrible that the driver slipped off the side of the road. It wasn't unusual for a bus to get stuck in the winter on the rural routes, but this time it went into the ditch so badly that it was nearly laying on it's side. The kids were scared and knew it was going to take a serious rescue to get us out.
Within a half an hour of the accident, as we were all hunkered together in the cold, crooked bus, out of the blizzard comes none other than my dad!
He climbs right in and looks at the driver and says, "I figured there was a problem." Then he looked over the seats and said, "Don't worry kids. Another bus is on the way!" Then he gave a military-like roll-call, "Tari! Chuck! Jessica and Maija!"
My brother, my cousin, the neighbor girl and myself all got out and climbed into dad's pickup. "Sorry I don't have room for more kids!" he called out to everybody else. And away he navigated over the snow drifts, shifting carefully to avoid hitting our knees since four kids were piled on the bench seat next to him.
Dad is a terrific grandfather. He planted apple trees when each of his three grandsons were born. We fly kites in his field and my son is convinced that his motor home is not for camping, but instead a way for grandpa to drive around with a freezer and all the fixings for ice cream sundaes. Dad is a great sport about playing games with the kids, a particular favorite of the family is Old Maid. He's a terrific story teller. He'll also get the boys out of our hair by suddenly getting up and asking who wants to "fly" to the end of the driveway while he outstretches his arms and takes them on an imaginary plane ride.
In three days I'm flying home to spend a long weekend with childhood girlfriends. Dad is coming to pick me up at Duluth airport, and already planning what to cook for the two evenings I'm home and shaking off my jet lag. Dad's been a widower for nearly 20 years now, so it was hard when I married a German and moved so far away from home. The times we do get to see each other are really special and always packed with laughs. This year, my real father's day comes a few days late... and I can't wait!
Oh, tj . . . I am usually laughing by the end of one of your blog posts, but this one made me tear up a little. Such a sweet tribute to your Dad. He is going to be really touched that you wrote this and I'm glad that you are going to get to see him close to Father's Day.
Posted by: Anne | June 18, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Happy Father's Day to your wonderful Dad!
This post was amazing. I also live in Minnesota, and we have a wood burning furnace. My husband does the wood chopping, piling and throwing, but you wrote so well, I pictured myself helping out!
I love your Dad's story. Thanks so much for sharing and posting a link on the Flying Lessons FB page!
Smiles to you and your family,
Briana G. (from Minnesota)
Posted by: Briana | June 18, 2011 at 01:16 PM
What a lovely Dad post. Great tales you've shared with us. Hope you have a great trip back!
Posted by: Fiona | June 18, 2011 at 01:54 PM
This is one of the nicest dad stories I've read in a while and probably one of the nicest dads I read about, you are one lucky girl to have a dad like this :)
Posted by: Veronika | June 18, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Thanks for the nice comments ladies - and welcome Briana! Minnesotans who burn wood are always welcome here...!! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Posted by: TJ | June 18, 2011 at 02:40 PM
Dearest Giesela, you have a really beautiful family and i am loving this post so much! It made me teary too! I love reading your papa's stories and that last photo is just so gorgeous! Have a lovely merry happy father's day weekend! Love to you!
Posted by: Jacqueline | June 18, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Fabulous tribute to your father. Enjoy your trip home. Hugs!
Posted by: Linda | June 18, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Giesela,
What a beautiful post & tribute to your dad. You are so lucky to have him in your life. Have a special visit together! Enjoy & safe journey! Theresa
Posted by: Theresa | June 18, 2011 at 06:50 PM
You must have the best dad in the world! I really enjoyed reading this because my dad and I didn't have a good relationship. It's nice to read about one so special. You're very lucky to have him.
Posted by: Janet | June 18, 2011 at 07:52 PM
TJ
I enjoyed reading about your Dad too. He sounds like a great guy! Cherish your memories and hold onto them. My Dad passed away 2 yrs ago and I smile and remember him whenever I hear stories like yours. Have a wonderful time back home and give your Dad an extra hug from me. <3
Posted by: Jean | June 19, 2011 at 12:59 AM
Oh what a lovely read. Thanks for sharing your dad with us... he must be so happy you're coming to visit. Have a lot of fun (and tell us all about it when you're back "home").
Happy trails & much love!
xo
Posted by: Skytimes | June 19, 2011 at 02:32 PM
What a beautiful tribute to your Dad! I really enjoyed reading your memories of your dad, as well as the role he plays in your life now. So very sweet. Enjoy your visit!
Posted by: Andria | June 19, 2011 at 02:41 PM
I love your Dad. What wonderful memories he gave you, and he probably wasn't even thinking of that, he was just being a loving caring nurturing DAD. Sounds like he truly knew how to live in the moment and love unconditionally...I want to hear more stories of your childhood. I think you should write a book. I only say that because there are so many interesting things rolled up into this one blog. I want to hear more about being raised in MInnesota, your Hero Dad, the wood shack....or better yet, a childrens story with your illustrations.....Your Dad sounds like a true MAIN character in a wonderful childhood story. being from Texas, I am always interested in stories of how someone else grew up in a different part of the country and especially different climate. Tell your Dad Happy Fathers Day, I just love him.
Posted by: Charla P | June 19, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Wow friends - so glad I shared my dad with you! Thanks for all the great comments. Dad is a cross between Paul Bunyan, a John Wayne character and Pa Ingalls. He should be in a book Charla!!
Hope you're all celebrating father's day weekend in your own special ways!! Love, tj
Posted by: TJ | June 19, 2011 at 09:19 PM
Such a sweet tribute. Your dad sounds like a wonderful man and he must miss you so much. Love that you said "hunkered" - I say that in conversations and my non-Minnesota friends think it's hilarious! Wish you were going to be closer to the Twin Cities so we could finally meet! Another time, yes? :)
Posted by: Liv @ Choosing Beauty | June 20, 2011 at 03:12 AM
Oh TJ.....that must be very hard!!!!!! What an awesome dad. He must miss you a lot too! I wish you lot's of fun and great times with your dad in the coming days!!!!! Be safe and ENJOY ALL THE WAY POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!
Smiles, Anke ;)
PS: And thank you for sharing!!!
Posted by: Anke | June 20, 2011 at 10:31 AM
Oh wow, we all wish for a dad like that. Wishing you a wonderful visit my friend!
I'll get to work on some atc's soon, how bout we trade 2! :)
Much Love,
Jenny
Posted by: Jenny Lee Wentworth | June 21, 2011 at 06:04 AM