Father And Son Relationship

[superheavyrhun]

I can honestly there is probably no one in this world I respect more. My dad has always offered a balance of wise advice and a wry sense of humour about life. If you don't appreciate a good fart joke, then there's no point going on is one of my favourite philosophies about life. Physically, we are completely different. He's on the low side of ten stone, I'm over twice that, and the only real physical trait we share is a rather odd lack of body hair.

However, when it comes to intellect, I like to think we are pretty close, although I do feel he probably has the edge with an extra 35 years' knowledge on me. Such a broad taste in music, i once had to ask him to turn the music down cause I had school in the morning... Extremely literate and with a huge library of books (he's taken over two rooms plus some of the basement for storage of books and records), I can honestly say he encouraged me to be curious, cynical, literate and with a decent appreciation for music from all kinds of different genres.

When he retired a few years ago we went on a month long trek to the Himalayas, and I hope to do a few more before both he and I don't have the legs anymore. My love of sport is one thing I don't share with him, although fair play he did play a lot of soccer with me when I was a kid, probably cause I pestered and dragged him away from books, music and generally being the best dad I could hope for.

This sounds gushing I know, but while I may have lost out in many areas of luck and fate, having a good dad was definitely one area where I was extremely lucky.

[Andre]

Every generation
Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations
Come beating on your door


I know that I'm a prisoner
To all my Father held so dear
I know that I'm a hostage
To all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years


Crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
I'm afraid that's all we've got


You say you just don't see it
He says it's perfect sense
You just can't get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a different language
Talking in defence


Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye


So we open up a quarrel
Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future
It's the bitterness that lasts


So Don't yield to the fortunes
You sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective
On a different day
And if you don't give up, and don't give in
You may just be OK.


Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye


I wasn't there that morning
When my Father passed away
I didn't get to tell him
All the things I had to say


I think I caught his spirit
Later that same year
I'm sure I heard his echo
In my baby's new born tears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years


Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye