The Greatest Thing I Have Ever Learned
Both of my parents worked full time when i was a kid and for their whole lives. Mom retired about 58 when the plant shut down and Pop retired around 75.
I can not remember a Thanksgiving or Christmas when my Dad did not have to leave to go fix something somewhere. My Dad worked 3 jobs his whole life almost. From before i woke up until after i went to bed he worked.
He came home for supper almost every night and then would go back to work. His normal hours were 5am until 11pm. I remember playing baseball and i could hit a ball farther than any of my friends by a long ways.
We were playing baseball in our field and i broke the doctors window. Not the small window for a room but for the main entrance. All the kids took off faster than a hood shooting. Donnell and i went to tell them i broke the window. I told Dad at supper and he was not mad just told me to be more careful.
Less than a week later i broke the new window. Donnell and i went and told them again. At supper my Dad was frustrated no punishment or anything just not having money to buy windows.
He told me the only way i could play baseball was if i hit right handed from now on. If i batted right handed there was nothing back there but woods. So that was how i learned to switch hit.
The only bad thing i can say about my dad was he was a workaholic. When i grew up i became a workaholic also. On a short week i only worked 60 or 70 hours. A long week was 120 plus.
Before i got sick i worked way way way to much.
Now the best time i spend is with my grandkids. Its great to see there eyes when they pull into the yard and get out running to you hollering Papa.
We have 4 grad kids now with one coming Dec 29th.
I can not remember a Thanksgiving or Christmas when my Dad did not have to leave to go fix something somewhere. My Dad worked 3 jobs his whole life almost. From before i woke up until after i went to bed he worked.
He came home for supper almost every night and then would go back to work. His normal hours were 5am until 11pm. I remember playing baseball and i could hit a ball farther than any of my friends by a long ways.
We were playing baseball in our field and i broke the doctors window. Not the small window for a room but for the main entrance. All the kids took off faster than a hood shooting. Donnell and i went to tell them i broke the window. I told Dad at supper and he was not mad just told me to be more careful.
Less than a week later i broke the new window. Donnell and i went and told them again. At supper my Dad was frustrated no punishment or anything just not having money to buy windows.
He told me the only way i could play baseball was if i hit right handed from now on. If i batted right handed there was nothing back there but woods. So that was how i learned to switch hit.
The only bad thing i can say about my dad was he was a workaholic. When i grew up i became a workaholic also. On a short week i only worked 60 or 70 hours. A long week was 120 plus.
Before i got sick i worked way way way to much.
Now the best time i spend is with my grandkids. Its great to see there eyes when they pull into the yard and get out running to you hollering Papa.
We have 4 grad kids now with one coming Dec 29th.
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I got tired of reading before I ever got to the greatest thing you ever learned. 0 -
Smitty500mag wrote:I got tired of reading before I ever got to the greatest thing you ever learned.
He clearly stated that he ?learned to switch hit?.
Don0 -
The greatest thing I learned over the years was;
I had to stop asking people that screwed up something, "How stupid can you get?"
Too many were taking it as a personal challenge.
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The greatest thing I ever learned, was that Life, is Not - all about Work.
Enjoy your time off.
I do not live to Work. I work to Live.
Your view may differ.0 -
Im going to make this one my signature line.
Worls class!Don McManus wrote:Smitty500mag wrote:I got tired of reading before I ever got to the greatest thing you ever learned.
He clearly stated that he ?learned to switch hit?.
Don0 -
Always enjoy your stories about being a kid,and about your dad. He sure seemed like a hard working,good man and you are definitely a chip off the 'ol block. And yes,grandkids are the best thing ever. 0
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