My Dad passed away last week in Wisconsin during a rehearsal dinner for his cousin's wedding. He was 49 years old and suffered a massive heartattack. He was showing no symptoms of anything prior to this. He has overcame a lot of hurdles, healthwise , but never did I imagine this could happen.
It's extremely hard for me to come online and even think about cougars without thinking of doing this hobby without my Dad. My Dad introduced me to the cougar back when I was 16 when he bought me my first 88 cougar. He worked many extra hours and overtime so that he could help buy me my first car. I took it for granted. He searched online, searched junk yards, searched for sale ads for good deals on mods for the coug. We worked on that 88LS for hours, him teaching me some mechanic work. We attended our first CJ together CJ 03 with the white 88LS. Since then our love for car shows grew, attending CJ04, CJ05 CJ 06 and CJ 08. We spent many many long nights in the garage together working on the blue cougar that once sat in a junk yard for years. He helped me work out many many bugs that the car came with.
He loved going to CJ, sometimes even more than I did. Every year he would push me to come to the meet to see everyone and their cars. Two years ago he had to jump into the group by purchasing Eric's 88 Blue Max. The car still sits beside my blue coug in the garage. He was planning on me doing some body work to it this spring and was excited about our first year of going to car shows together with them.
This past week, his loss didnt hit me until I walked up to our garage and looked at our two cars sitting there beside each other, remembering what we used to do together. Father and Son...
Our Birthdays are on the same Day, 9/24 .
Sadly my Father will be missed and I will miss everything that he was to me. Next year's CJ will be especially hard for me, My Best friend who I could share many laughs and memories with will no longer be sitting right next to me. It will just be me, by myself.
(http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3417/wed7er3.jpg)
:shakehead ^ last month @ my sister's wedding.
Sorry to hear that.
My condolences.
Steve...I don't know what to say...that's just shocking. I am SO sorry to hear that. Your dad was the coolest, man. I'm glad that at least you two got to spend a lot of time together. If you need to talk, get in touch man.
I can't imagine how hard it must be loosing not just your father, but a really close friend. At least your fortunate enough to be able to have had and enjoyed a great relationship with your father and will be able to look back and remember those good times.
My condolences
At least he will live on in your memories. I am coming up on the 1 year of my friend Sam's death that was my age next month and its hard but I cant imagine losing my dad...
My condolences
Sorry for your loss. Keep the memories alive.
Next year's CJ will be especially hard for me, My Best friend who I could share many laughs and memories with will no longer be sitting right next to me. It will just be me, by myself. [/QUOTE]
My sympathy goes out to you & your family. I lost my dad 8 years ago & believe me, you will always feel like Dad is right by yor side. Hang in there dude.
Sorry for your loss, hang in there.
I hate hearing that news.As we all do.It's never easy.As Kitz said,keep the memories alive for you and your dad.
My condolences...
Also being one to suddenly to loose his dad, I know what a shock it is...
I am so sorry for your loss. Your story and mine are eeriliy similar. I lost my Dad two years ago under very similar cirspoogestances. He was my best friend and the one who developed and nurtured my love of automobiles. I know you don't know me, but if I can help, please don't hesitate to reach out.
I am sorry fro your loss. I wish the best for you. Don't let his memory die kept your head up and keep those cars they way you had them.
, Steve, that's rough. I'm real sorry to hear of it. I'll always remember your dad chillin' out at any random CJ in a lawn chair with a drink in his hand. Even though I'd only maybe talked to him a few times, I won't forget him.
Here's to your Father.
:cheers:
OH man Steve, I'm so sorry to hear that! My condolences! And like Brian, I'll never forget him just chillin' out and having good times at Cat Jam!
My condolences. It seems more rare all the time that sons are really that close to their fathers that they work on hobbies together. I know it must be hard for you to even look at the cars, but when you do remember what you have gained in taking on those projects together and carry on with those times in mind.
I find myself in a similar situation with my father, though somewhat reversed. From the time I was about 5 yrs old I can remember going golfing with him, and to the sprint races in northwest Ohio nearly every weekend in the summer.
Back in March, shortly after buying my 4th Cougar (5th fox body) I was at my dad's house for the day and he asked me, "What is it with you and these cars?" It took me a while to explain it to him but it ended with me saying, "You've been in every one I've owned, how did they feel? I've never owned a car that drives rides and handles the way these cars do. I like the way they feel."
A couple months later he called me and says, "Guess what I just bought!" "A pizza?" (Dad HATES pizza) "Not on your life." he says. "I just bought an '88 Cougar LS." My jaw dropped to the floor as he proudly described it, listed all it's options then started asking me about other things on the car. I thought myself, I've just converted a die hard MOPAR man to Ford. He's loving that car more and more every day. Even his wife, seems to love driving the Cougar over her brand new Milan. Now he understands.
But my father's health has been getting worseby the day. He has a resperatory syndrome that inhibits his blood from picking oxegen. He's on 100% oxegen 24/7 and gets winded just walking from the kitchen to the living room. I know he doesn't have much longer and it makes it hard for me to see him lke that. But I also know that we had our time together and it it was good time. Yes, I'll miss him when he goes, but I also know I can't keep him forever except in my heart.
So keep you father in your heart and he'll be right there with you every time you get in that car.
wow bro my thoughgs a prayers are with u and ur family ....and im with brian and alex on ther coments
My condolences to you, your family and friends.
my grandmother went into the hospital with a stroke last saturday. bloodcot got into her brain. she's still laying in the bed and has a hard time pr0nouncing certain words and im pretty sure its b/c one side of her face went numb. we all thought she had good health and figured my gramps would go first, he's 10 years or so older than her. it was a complete shock. im ganna go see her either sometime this week, or im ganna go this weekend and help my dad through this. i couldnt imagine losing my mom, even with it being a high possibility. she's ganna pull through says the drs, so im not too worried but its gana be a long recovery. im numb to be honest. its a possibility that they both could go at any minute b/c they're both in their 70's and 80's..
my condolences.
Steve, I am so sorry! Your dad was such a sweetie, he'll really be missed at CJ.
If there's anything I can do, please let me know.
I know there isn't anything anyone can say to help you feel better, so I won't try.
Just remember all your fun times together, take your time in dealing with everything. I know it doesn't feel like it, but things will get better.... it just takes time.
Take care.
I'm very sorry for your loss.
I am very sorry to hear of your loss.
My condolences.
My condolences. I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy to loose someone close to you. In the past two years I have lost a grandmother, an aunt, and both my grandfathers. People need to stop dieing for awhile.....
I could barely read all that without a lump getting in the way. I can only say that any father would be honored with such kind words from his son.
I wish you the best and I am sure you will keep his memories alive,, my condolences as well.
I was at Catjam this year, but I was probably the only one that wasn't at the picnic, I now regret not being there to meet him. He sounded like a great person to know.
my condolences.
So sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
You all are wonderful.
Thank you for everything.
See you next CJ
Steve
Very sad to hear. I always know that my dad would be proud to see I'm keeping up his vehicles as he would have wanted, and enjoying the cougar and getting more out of it than it came with. Sometimes I still think of it as "dad's car".
I never got to have him work with me since I started messin' with em after his death...but same deal man...he got me into it. :bowdown:
Sounds like you both had some real good times. Awesome. Just keep thinkin' of those. I love thinkin' back, a lot of the best memories were when I was < 10 yrs old....carefree times alright, what was there to worry about!
See ya at CJ I think I'll be there this year, FINALLY lol.
My condolences
Im so sorry Steve, I loved your dad. He was a great guy and I really really had a good time with him at all the CJ's. Im blessed with the pleasure to know him, even if it was for one weekend a year. Take care.
I'm very sorry to hear this, and you have my deepest condolences. My dad is 50, and I don't know what I'd do if I lost him. He sounds just like your dad. We've spent countless hours in junk yards and working on old cars. He definitely got me into cars at a very early age. He even bought me the LSC for 475.00 when I got my first AAS degree. Even though it was almost a junk car, I was so happy and grateful to get it because we both worked together to restore it.
Man I cant imagine what your going through right now. Never had the pleasure to meet either of you because I never got to go to to the last catjam. Thats got to be one of my most biggest fears is loseing my father while I am still at a young age. I know how it is, my father and I have been close since I was born, and We spent/spend most of our time together working on cars, and everything i've learned is because of him. I can't imagine what its gonna be like when hes gone.... Hearing this makes me wanna value my time with him so much more...
I will be at next years catjam and will be nice to meet you and see that beautiful cougar, and see the memories you and your father have in that car. I know that it must have immense sentimental value to you now. I have a 66 stang my dad gave to me, and the thought of it being gone or something happens to it gives me a lump in my throat, and tears to my eyes. To everyone it may just be a car, but YOU know the memories of all the work, and time you have it in with your dad. Be happy that you had a close and good relationship with him because some are not as lucky as you are. Keep your head up, and dont let those cars go. Hold on to the memories, and know how proud he must be of you.
Like other have said, I may not know you, but if theres anything I or anyone on here can do, don't hesitate to ask.