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Topic starter
08/04/2022 11:41 am
BREAKFAST and a MEMORY...PRICELESS
Getting up early and going to breakfast has always been one of my favorite things I look forward to. With Lorraine and/or with friends if possible, but often by myself. This morning was one by myself and as it turned out, it was a memorable one beyond words.
Having finished my eggs and while sipping my coffee, I saw a man and a boy come in and be seated. I felt a warm feeling come over me and found myself suddenly actually getting a little teary eyed. In that man and boy, I saw me and my Dad.
The reason I enjoy going to breakfast so much is that from the time I was 8 years old, my Dad would take me to breakfast with him. It is one of my most cherished memories. Of course at the time, being young, I didn't think about the specialty of those moments and time spent with my Dad, but in hindsight they've always been special.
When I got up to leave, I stopped by their table. I excused myself saying to the man, "Is this young man your son?". The man saying yes, I then said, "I don't know you and this may sound a little corny, but when I saw you and your boy come in, I had a flashback to when I'd go to breakfast with my Dad". I then looked at the boy and added, "Enjoy this time with your Dad, some day it will be a great memory".
Looking back at the boy's father I said, "My Dad left me many years ago, but this morning, seeing you both, you've given me a great memory". I was a little teary eyed as said it. The man thanked me and said, "God bless you". When I got to the register to pay for my breakfast, I told the server I was also paying for their breakfast...and I pointed to their table.
The best $24.81 I've ever spent. I had breakfast with my Dad this morning!
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
08/04/2022 12:03 pm
Nicely done, George. This made me think of times I had alone with my dad. Thanks.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
08/04/2022 12:06 pm
How nice! You just made my morning George.
08/04/2022 12:10 pm
That is a wonderful story.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Topic starter
08/04/2022 1:49 pm
It was certainly a Godwink moment for me for sure. I never did much with my Dad aside from those breakfasts, but they were special. He left me when I was just 30 years old, passing at the young age of 55. So seeing that little guy this morning with his father come in, just absolutely popped back with a happy memory that moved me to tears. I'm still in awe of it. We all need to reflect on those "special moments".
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
08/04/2022 2:32 pm
Great story and reminder that our time on Earth should be cherished with each passing minute.
Topic starter
08/04/2022 4:09 pm
So true. And after the last couple of years that we've all been through, it is even more true. Life is fleeting, memories are forever.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
08/04/2022 7:53 pm
Well said George and a great story. My dad died when he was 56 and I was 33. I continually thank God for the wonderful parents my brother and I had. We did everything as a family and mom and dad never were too busy for my brother and I. I had some friends that weren't that lucky so they would hang out at our house.
Topic starter
08/04/2022 10:44 pm
Well said George and a great story. My dad died when he was 56 and I was 33. I continually thank God for the wonderful parents my brother and I had. We did everything as a family and mom and dad never were too busy for my brother and I. I had some friends that weren't that lucky so they would hang out at our house.
I envy you Bob, you were blessed to have the family you did. Perhaps you've picked up from some of my posts that at age 8, my parents divorced. My Dad got us kids (me, two sisters and a brother), as our mother didn't want us. My Dad didn't have a place for us, so each of us were put in to foster homes, not together, but each of in a different home. I was the oldest and we each handled this situation differently.
Over the course of the next three years, I personally was in three different homes, so never had a sense of belonging. When my Dad finally bought a house when I was 12, we finally were living with him. My Dad worked nights and when he'd come home in the morning from work, me being an early bird would get to go to breakfast with him.
It really was the only thing that my Dad and I did together, as he also had some day jobs to make ends meet. But this left me at that young age in charge of the house and to watch over two sisters and brother. It wasn't a role that I relished in, but it was what it was.
This was the reason that I got interested in old cars and old wrestling. Both were a way of keeping me sane, when I wasn't able to really be a kid and grow up normal.
For this reason, seeing that man and his son come in to the restaurant this morning was so moving to me. It was a fond memory of my Dad. Perhaps more than you wished to know, so thanks for reading.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
09/04/2022 11:02 am
God Bless you, George, and everyone else that read and or replied to your post.
Divorced parents at 10yrs old. Went with Dad.
Moved from NY to CA in '67. Dad worked hard to put a roof over us. He lovingly took all 4 of us. Me, 2 younger brothers and a sister.
Dad passed at 54yrs old when I was 34.
I still, and always will, treasure the times that he'd call to ask what my day off this week was so he'd take a day off for us to go fishing. After he passed I spent hours at the dock just sitting on his boat trying to decide if I should buy it from family and live on it. His dream in retirement was to do that.
Oh, the memories I have....
Topic starter
09/04/2022 11:15 am
@100ford2003 Our backgrounds appear to be similar. My dad passed away at age 55 when I was 30. I was called by the police department in the city he was living in when my dad had not been to work in two days. I met them at his apartment, and my dad was dead on his couch with the TV on. It was not a good sight to have to endure.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
09/04/2022 4:57 pm
Thank-you again George. God Bless our Families.