About 8 years ago my dad died and about two weeks later my girlfriends niece had a baby girl. Young parents aren't always super responsible and I got to care for this baby quite a bit. I had fridays off and mom worked so I always got her on thursday night (why wake a baby and haul her around in the wee hours). Keep in mind I informed my parents at the age of 18 to never expect any children from me, the world has plenty of kids already that need parents. At the time I'd never changed a diaper, even though I'd raised a step son from age 2 to adult. Any parent can relate to what was my favorite job, feeding her bottle and rocking her to sleep. That feeling just knowing that child has absolute trust in you, if you've never experienced it you're missing one of lifes great treasures.
Fast forward to today. Two weeks ago mom gives dad the boot----don't know the whole story and don't really care. Lucky for us I've got a couple thousand sq ft shop which isn't being fully used. When I built it I roughed in plumbing for a kitchen----if I ever lost my job I could move in. I'm charging him rent (seriously low) and going to teach him to live on the cheap. No dining out, cooking lessons are part of the game plan. Dad spent one week in a motel room and we're just getting him settled in at the shop. Now we've got a stove and refrigerator with probably more food in it than when he had a woman. Tomorrow I'm going after a bunk bed for the girls (there's a little sister too) plus a kitchen sink.
Here's the woodburner part of the story. I got a used earthstove and lined it with new firebrick. Hauled him in some firewood that was good and dry. He's a little nervous about the woodburner but is already beginning to understand that if the furnace doesn't run neither does the gas meter. This weekend I'm going to untarp the little Allis Chalmer and hook up the trailer. Teach dad how to drive it and go down to the creek bottom and get some more wood and kindling. I'm guessing those two little girls will always remember dad taking them in the trailer to get wood to keep warm. Previously they lived in town and didn't even have a yard to play in. Now they've got 20 acres of yard and a creek.
I haven't felt soooooo good for a long time. This isn't about me, it's about being able to offer help to someone that was in a nearly hopeless situation just a few weeks ago. I've never been much of a charitable person---I think a lot of people take it as a free ride. Just go to a bingo hall and I'll bet half the people there were at the food bank earlier.
Last week I let the girls help make homemade noodles. Maybe this weekend I'll teach dad how to make homemade chicken and noodles. This week a 10 lb bag of leg quarters is $4.90-------that's a helluva lot of eating for the price of a big mac and fries.
I can't wait for the weekend and getting outdoors with dad and his two little girls.
Fast forward to today. Two weeks ago mom gives dad the boot----don't know the whole story and don't really care. Lucky for us I've got a couple thousand sq ft shop which isn't being fully used. When I built it I roughed in plumbing for a kitchen----if I ever lost my job I could move in. I'm charging him rent (seriously low) and going to teach him to live on the cheap. No dining out, cooking lessons are part of the game plan. Dad spent one week in a motel room and we're just getting him settled in at the shop. Now we've got a stove and refrigerator with probably more food in it than when he had a woman. Tomorrow I'm going after a bunk bed for the girls (there's a little sister too) plus a kitchen sink.
Here's the woodburner part of the story. I got a used earthstove and lined it with new firebrick. Hauled him in some firewood that was good and dry. He's a little nervous about the woodburner but is already beginning to understand that if the furnace doesn't run neither does the gas meter. This weekend I'm going to untarp the little Allis Chalmer and hook up the trailer. Teach dad how to drive it and go down to the creek bottom and get some more wood and kindling. I'm guessing those two little girls will always remember dad taking them in the trailer to get wood to keep warm. Previously they lived in town and didn't even have a yard to play in. Now they've got 20 acres of yard and a creek.
I haven't felt soooooo good for a long time. This isn't about me, it's about being able to offer help to someone that was in a nearly hopeless situation just a few weeks ago. I've never been much of a charitable person---I think a lot of people take it as a free ride. Just go to a bingo hall and I'll bet half the people there were at the food bank earlier.
Last week I let the girls help make homemade noodles. Maybe this weekend I'll teach dad how to make homemade chicken and noodles. This week a 10 lb bag of leg quarters is $4.90-------that's a helluva lot of eating for the price of a big mac and fries.
I can't wait for the weekend and getting outdoors with dad and his two little girls.
!
