My Hero....My Dad

I wrote this a couple years back but felt I needed to re-submit.Its in tribute to my Dad but also for ALL Dads,GrandDads,etc out there!Our greatest heros are our own:

I’ll never forget that day…...........

I was five years old and one extremely active kid. Even back then I was up early into everything.
I think I was outside climbing a tree in the yard and my Dad said to me (In his
French accent)”Aaaahh….Gerry? Want to come with me today”. My eyes bugged out
and I danced around in joy as my Dad asked me to go to work with him. My Dad
was a Brick Mason and as I soon found out quite an amazing one.We
would always go to the coffee shop every morning were all the tradesmen would
meet up before heading to their job sites. I was taken back by how loved my Dad
was by everyone. He would light up when a fellow tradesman or anyone for that
matter would say Hello. I felt like I was with a famous celebrity…lol.Every
day Dad would bring me with him, having me move bricks and blocks, teaching me the craft he had mastered. He would never leave a job unless it was spotless,
regardless of the size. He taught me the meaning of hard work and the
importance of quality. One thing I always noticed was my Dad was consistant.He
got me to understand the Value of things and to appreciate your clients. He
would bring me to work with him until I was 19 years old. I soon went off to
the Military. I so badly wanted to make him proud. He was a man I greatly
respected. What I have not touched on is, not only did my Dad instill these great things in me he also proved to my Family he was the most Loving man who never quit during the hardest of times. My Mother was mentally stricken when we were young.

My Dad had to then be our Mom and Dad and take care of her with us. He never quit and let me tell you, it was quite a challenge. Any other person would of given up buthe had a responsibility and he made a promise to us to be there. Never have I seen such strength. He always was positive and I know there were times when he broke down behind the walls. Another thing I learned was to never quit. Many
years ago, my little Brother passed away unexpectedly. Recently my Mom passed
away and between those two losses(as well as the loss of most of his family…he
is the youngest of 11 and he’s now 81 years old),my Dad held strong still.I could
go on and on as well as many could about my Dad but I’ll leave it with this.
a Few years back, my Dad had an unexpected Heart attack.There were no indications or
family history of heart disease. He was at the coffee shop with his little
buddies as he has done for 50 years, as he used to bring me. He suddenly got
chest pain and we got him care ASAP. Even that evening in the Hospital, after
they stinted him and removed the 100% blockage, he sat in that hospital bed
smiling and making all the nurses blush. They kept telling me how much they
loved my Dad. He was more concerned about us than himself. He is amazing!

We all
grow up with Heroes we look up to. Some want to be Fireman, Police, Wrestlers,
Famous people.

I never had a Hero or someone I wanted to be more than one person……my Hero…My Dad.