Belated Father's Day Memory

Last week, my computer was sick and I didn't have the opportunity to post my Father's Post, so it doesn't have to be Father's Day to do so. I talk alot about my mother, but Dad was certainly an important part of my life. Unfortunately, my father is not of this earth. He died in 1986, from cancer. Dad was born in America, although his parents were from Europe. My grandparents became U.S. citizens,although they never learned to speak English. Because of the language barrier, I never had a close relationship with my grandparents. Dad met my Mother in Europe during WW II. After knowing each other for one month they married and came to live in Penn. They were married over 34 years. Dad was like a "bull dog". He was short, 5 ft. 2 in. overweight, was a dedicated provider for his family and a believer in getting education. Throughout the years my father worked in steel mills. Dad bought a tavern to supplement his income when the steel workers were unemployed. My Mother would clean homes for $5. a day. At times we had no car, so Dad would have to walk miles to get to work, he never complained. Dad always wanted my Mother to have her own home instead of renting. While we lived in Penn., he subcontracted and built two homes. Unfortunately, he had to sell these homes due to being laid off from work. After, my parents moved to Georgia, to be near my sister and myself, Dad built Mother a house and they lived in it until Dad died. Dad told my Mother that he wanted his two girls, my sister, Aileen and myself to get a good college education. My parents never had a high school ed. and Dad said he wanted us to have a better life. He and Mother worked extra to help us with college. If I hadn't gone to college I wouldn't have been a Social Worker for 34 years. I owe alot to my parents for having a better life. Dad was a man of action not a man who showed affection. No hugging, kissing, no words of love. He would do things for us or buy things as his way of telling us he loved us. One Xmas, after comming home from college, my Father remembered that the only item I wanted for Xmas was a blue sapphire ring. There this item was in our glove compartment, when my parents picked me up at the airport. My Father smoked and had cancer. We were told he might live 6 months to a year, he lived 3 months after his diagnonis. He was hospitalized 3 times. The night that Dad died at the hospital, he became restless and just before he died, his few and last words were "I love you". There had always been a sad part of my life not hearing words of love or affection, but those final words were what I waited for many years. As I write this post, tears still come to me. Dad loved us, but how important words can be. Throughout my life, I try to tell my family, friends I love them. Sometimes, people can't verbally express love. Remember to tell those you love them as there may be an emptyness if something should happen and then it's too late. My Father's last words will always be a Treasure. Thanks Dad, I love you.