Proud Father Thread (not what you think)

[R Q]

I'm 58, my dad is 81. He was always my favorite parent. No BS, always stern when I was young, long leash so I could hang myself as I got older. Once I was an adult we saw each other a few times per year. He never needed anything nor did I so it was holidays, birthdays, etc., My step mom died suddenly around '04 and he hit the ground running, she was a basket case so he was finally free. He always liked to have fun. He got a couple girlfriends along the way so I still didnt see him more than usual but I knew he was getting older so I was a bit more aware. His best girl died of pneumonia in '18 I think so I started paying more attention and checking on him but he was still fine. Then COVID hit and he worked at Advance Auto for something to do and they let all people over 60 go. He liked that job because he had full health insurance and didnt have to do Medicare plus he liked being in the truck seeing all the different people in the shops he delivered to.
So for the first time he is alone, VFW, American Legion, closed. Can't work and we are all scrambling because no one knew wtf COVID was at first. Then he got a bad case of gout and let it get bad to where he could barely walk and for the first time ever, he looked old to me. I went to his house and saw how bad he looked and took his ass to the doctor, it was the first time I ever made him do anything! lol
Fast forward a couple years and VFW and American Legion is open and he's fully involved. I have to make an appointment with him for dinner or to watch a race and drink beers with him on a Sunday. Called him tonight to see if he would go to a turkey shoot with me tomorrow but NO he has a date lol.
My old man is still rockin!

 

[rodney eppes]

FWIW; The Belmont Autozone store, made a nice donation the the CTB Club Raffle, this year. As I spent some time in there, waiting on the Manager to get free, I asked one of the other workers about an elderly parts delivery guy. Guy looked to me to be late 70s & up! Turns out, the guy I asked was an assistant manager, who said he thought the delivery guy was 67, & this assistant manager is 65 [didn't look it]. I guess Autozone will take anyone they can get. No offense to Us older workers! My usual Advance Auto, is getting some employees that need to go back to school!