Just because their love died, doesn't mean ours did...

My parents divorced when I was four. I never really grew up with my dad, when the divorced happened I went away with my sisters and mom, only every once in a while would I see my dad. My dad and I are really the only ones that understand each other in the family and can stand to get along. My dad is the only true guy I need in my life and these songs remind me of him…

Five Songs That…remind me of my dad

Where’d you go by Fort Minor

So, I want you to know it's a little f***ed up,
That I'm stuck here waitin', at times debatin',
Tellin' you that I've had it with you and your career,
Me and the rest of the family here singing "Where'd you go?"
My dad’s career is a mechanic and he really is a workaholic. Before the divorce and even afterwards he put his job before his family. My mom and his three daughters always waited around for him wanting and waiting for him to change. We all got sick of it and my mom divorced him and took us with her.

You know the place where you used to live,

Used to barbecue up burgers and ribs,
Used to have a little party every Halloween with candy by the pile,
But now, you only stop by every once and a while,
In the summer my dad always barbecued and around Halloween we filled a huge pot full of candy. And the place where he used to live was our old house the one I grew up in, the one he barely stopped by and when he did it wouldn’t be for long or not at all.

 

Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band

It's funny how it’s the little things in life
That mean the most
Not where you live or what you drive
Or the price tag on your clothes
There’s no dollar sign on a piece of mind
My dad has always taught me to know where you come from and it’s not about materialistic things that make you up. The price on your clothes or what brands you wear isn’t who you are it’s how you present yourself and having respect that means the most.

And a little bit of chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

My dad knows I listen to mostly country and love this song. He heard on the radio one time and called me to tell me just because it reminded me of him. He’s always worn jeans and drank mostly beer. Even in the summer and at work he wears jeans.

 
 

 

Fishing in the Dark by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

You and me going fishing in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting on the stars
Where the cool grass grow

My dad and I always had a fetish to fish. We just really enjoy it. He’s the one that got me hooked on it. He has a house with a pond and we usually just go there to fish and end up fishing until the sun goes down. The cool grass part reminds me of how much he hates to cut the grass; when my parents were together he only cut the grass every once in a while and my mom had to get a picture of it. 

Stay Together for the Kids by Blink182

I see them everyday
We get along, so why can't they?
If this is what he wants
And this is what she wants
Then why is there so much pain?

When I was growing up of course I saw my parents every day. My dad and I always got along and understood each other, but for some reason my parents couldn’t find any more love for each other. My mom wanted the divorce, but my dad never understood why, he tried everything, but it wasn’t enough for her. My mom was always hurt somehow and so was my dad he just didn’t show it.

So here's your holiday
Hope you enjoy it this time
You gave it all away

My mom took custody of us three and my dad almost never saw us. But the only holiday that he asked for was Christmas Eve and that’s all he really got. When he did have us for Christmas Eve all he did was drink at the family event and not really do anything with us while we were there. My mom said that’s really the only holiday you’ll have with the girls. The “You gave it all away” part reminds me of my dad getting us for Christmas Eve, but he didn’t even do anything, just kind of sat there.

 

Flashlight by Chris Young

And he'll never know how much he taught me
Out in that garage
And I guess the stuff that stuck
Was more about life than fixing cars
Cause to this day I still can't make 'em run right
But I sure did learn a lot
Just holding the flashlight

My dad works on cars and freight trucks. When he did work at his house he would have me hold the flashlight on that one spot he needed. He taught me a lot when he was working and not just how to fix cars. He taught me life lessons and lectured about whatever really came to his mind that he thought was important. Besides learning how to fix cars or make them “run right” I learned more than that while holding the flashlight.

 

 

 

Some of these songs you may not know, some you may not like, but they remind me of my dad. He’s been right all along, “stick to your word,” “have self-value,” and never “sell yourself short!”

Dedicated to William E. Althaus Jr.

Just a Kiss

Some people’s opinions of the famous “Kissing Sailor” is that it’s sexual assault or unromantic, but I personally don’t agree with any of these opinions. I almost believe the complete opposite. The facts are that they weren’t dating, didn’t know each other and it was in the spur of the moment. I don’t agree with people and feminist calling it “sexual assault.” I think people take things way out of proportion and make a mountain out of a mole hill essentially. The war just ended and  everyone was celebrating, hugging, kissing, and just loving the moment that everything violent and dangerous is over and worries about things have lifted; and people want to worry about how one guy out of the entire city and country kissed another random girl that he happened to be around.  When I see the picture I honestly see two people kissing in the street, something romantic or cute. Others want to see a huge problem that they can bring to the media’s attention.  Maybe he shouldn’t have picked a girl out of random since a girl he was dating was in the picture, but in the moment of the war ending things just happened so quickly. One person said it was wrong since we live in a “rape culture.” I disagree with this since it’s not part of our culture to do this to people and the picture of the kiss is not even close to that tragedy. The man in the picture had a few drinks and heard on the radio that the Japanese had surrendered, he remembers running out of the bar to celebrate, but doesn't remember kissing the girl. When the picture came out the girl immediately recognized herself, but the sailor didn't think it was him. The girl didn't find it to be assault or anything along those lines. So, conclusion I don’t see a major problem over this picture, it has been around for over 60 years and people just now want to bring it up to the media? They just need to leave it part of history and art. Let people see it how they want to see it. Don’t make a big deal out of things that don’t need to be brought to media’s attention. The kissing Sailor picture is an icon of the day the Japanese surrendered and significant to American history, not how it’s a crime of sexual assault.

From Mayhem to a Relationship

Young Love

July 20th was the day of the Mayhem concert. It was the only night that I have ever worked the swing gate which let's the guest out at the end of the show. One guy kept hanging around and walking around the front gate area. Eventually, him and another guy came up to me and were just talking. The one particular guy asked how old I was and I said 17. He said his brother was 17 as well. And he told me to add his brother on facebook and insisted on us meeting. His brother wasn't at that show, but he said his brothers name was Josh Ruble. The guy said his name is Joe and wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed to add him on facebook. I said I guess I would look him up and see what he's all about. When the show started his brother, Joe, went to his seat and told me to remember to add his brother and talk to him. When I went home I almost past by the computer, but I just kind of looked at it trying to remember the name he told me. I logged into facebook and searched Josh Rubel...nothing came up. I tried a different search...Joe Rubel. Nothing came uo, but a suggestion Joe Ruble instead of Rubel. I clicked on it and it was his brother. I searched Josh Ruble at least four times and on the fifth and final search he was at the top of the page. He was the only one that looked like the description that Joe described. I added him and only him. The next morning I checked and nothing...that afternoon he messaged me saying how his brothere told him about me and Verizon Wireless. We ended up talking more and texting. It eventually turned into a relationship that's still on going. We first started talking the day after Mayhem and he asked to hangout. We made plans and told me where he lived. It was about an hour away. I drove down there to just see if it could turn into something... and four months later were still going strong. July 23 was the first time we ever met and spent time together. If it wasn't for his brother telling me to add him or if I just walked past my computer and never logged onto facebook I would have never met the guy I now call my boyfriend.
Some people called me crazy for driving down there, but I took a chance to meet someone that could impact my life. And that day I didn't have a clue he would be this big of a part in my life. Young love some would call it, but I just call it taking a chance. Most people want to meet their soulmate, significant other, better half, when their young. They hope for a fairytale, but it doesn't always end up that way. If something comes along and you think something could happen from that one person I say take a chance... I did and it turned out in the best positive awy I could ask for. Some people think it's impossible to stay with someone through high school, college, and life for that matter, but if those two people were meant to be they will get through it even if they both are in young love with eachother.