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.