Fathers: Life’s lessons from Dad
Published: June 19, 2005
The family traveled often between the two countries, an experience that put Graciela’s street smarts to the test. Dad taught her street names, directions, landmarks and self-confidence.
During solo trips overseas, his daughter, now of Buena Park, hung onto his words of encouragement:
“Si pueden.” You can do it.
Jacqui Trautt saw the bright side of single parenthood, thanks to her father, Tom Allen .
“He was thoughtful about my situation and didn’t lecture me, which would only have left me feeling sorrier for myself,” wrote Jacqui, a College Park area resident. “Instead, he told me, ‘No, you have (your daughter) Adrienne. You have everything.”
The parent-child role reversal in the wake of Jesus Vargas ‘ head injury taught his daughter Jane Vargas “humility, patience and respect.” “As a Korean War veteran and a retired McDonnell Douglas employee of 38 years, he deserves respect and love, to be taken care of, live in a good environment and have a good life,” Jane wrote. Maureen Morris’ best life lesson came from her grandfather, Ed Johnson Jr.
He led by example, making his children and grandchildren his first priority, Maureen said.
“My only hope is that we continue to make him as proud of us as we were of him,” she continued. “We have a great role model to emulate.”
Raised in a single-parent home, Long Beach resident Erin Danks considers her uncle, Paul Chislock of Cypress, as one of her positive male role models.
“My uncle may not know it, but over the years he has taught me many valuable lessons,” Erin wrote.
Wisdom of age
At 78, Teodoro Enrique Abeyta is still taking care of his family, said his son, Mark Abeyta.
“The best lesson my father taught me, and it’s one he has never verbally expressed is: taking care of your family,” the Lakewood resident wrote. “I have a brother with complete kidney failure, two handicapped sisters, and my dad never asks, ‘How much?”
Long Beach resident Denise Sarno learned the meaning of selflessness from her father. A 30-year battle with a brain tumor didn’t keep him from his children’s athletic events and celebrating their academic achievements.
“His selflessness exhibited through his fortitude to sustain pain and debilitation, afforded my family and I a well-rounded and stable childhood,” Denise wrote. “What more can a child ask for?”
Norwalk resident Sharon Thurtle e-mailed on behalf of her sister, Georgia Newhall, and her daughter, Jean Hockett.
“I guess the best lesson I’ve learned from my Dad is love never dies,” the Cypress resident wrote of Jimmy Seig.
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Letters From Dad“My parents were very young, and the marriage ended when I was small,” Sharon wrote. “The years passed, and my mother and dad went on with their lives. We received a letter from my dad and discovered he was a widower living in Idaho with his son. Then one day, out of the blue, my mother drove up to her house and discovered my dad sitting in his car. Even though we lost over 50 years, we have found the love we thought was lost.”
Irma Guzman was able to understand and love her heritage, thanks to her father, Benedicto Alvizo.
“To learn about my family’s background, I’ve had to ask questions and be willing to listen to stories that carry many types of emotions,” she wrote. “I take the time to listen to my father and his stories because I see in his eyes how much he enjoys reminiscing.
“Besides, he takes me back in time, and there’s no better feeling than that. On this day I want to tell you, Dad, that I’ve enjoyed every story that you’ve shared with me.”
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