My dad's name was Cary D. (Danny) Samples. He was a hard working man. He always put his family first in everything he did. I grew up in east central Indiana in a small town. One of my earliest memories of my dad is of him putting up a swing set in a back yard. I remember watching him put it up and how I could not wait to swing on that thing. He had a white Ford Galaxy that he loved so much. In fact, he kept that car until the rust ate through the floor board of that old car. He was a Ford man forever.
My dad worked in a die casting factory making parts for cars, things like the grills, outside mirror brackets and things like that, before it all went plastic. He worked as much as he could, days, nights, weekends, you name it and he worked it. Like I said, he always put his family first. He always made sure his kids had all the things we wanted, whatever it was. I remember one night he went out of his way for me. I used to stay up late and wait for him to come home, that may be why I still enjoy staying up late. Anyway, I would stay up late every Friday night and wait for him. Most everyone of those nights he would order a pizza and bring it home. Mainly because he wanted dinner, but I enjoyed it because it was time I got to spend with him. Well, I called and ordered the pizza before he got home and he had to go back out and get the pizza. He didn't really have the money for the pizza that night, but he went for it anyway.
He taught me how to ride a bike but, he didn't teach me how to stop the bike when I was done. So, I just rode my bike into a tree. It worked, it hurt, but it worked. Well, one day I was on my bike riding around the street in front of my house. My dad had a rule that we were not to ride over the hill out of sight of our house. I decided to see what was on the other side of the hill one day. When I did I knew I did something very wrong and knew that I was going to be in big trouble when I got home. Sure enough, as I toped the hill, there he was in the front yard waiting for me. I started crying (I was maybe 3 or 4 at the time) before I ever got home. He didn't punish me when I got home, he said I had punished myself enough. I learned a great lesson that day, dad was always right.
He also taught me to drive, he taught me to work hard and to put my family first. He taught me to value my friends, to be a good friend to others. He helped me through many a broken heart, took me and my then girlfriend on my first date. He taught me to keep pushing myself and to never settle for what I was. He stood by my side when I struggled, he stood proud when I succeeded. He knew when it was time to let go, and when to reel me in. But, most of all, he taught me to make decisions for my self. He never told me what to do, he told me the good and bad of what ever decision I was facing. The choice was mine. When I signed up for the Army, I was trying to choose a career choice, I wanted to have him there with me to tell me what I should choose, but I heard him in my head telling me that I had to make the decision my self. I did and I could tell it hurt him to know that his son was stepping out on his own. But, I think he was very proud as well.
I remember the last time I talked to him. I had moved to Maryland and was living with my mom at the time. I wanted to spread my wings a bit and grow. My last face to face time I had with him was a very, and I do me VERY, heated argument. I can't remember what it was about, but I know that I said some things I wish I wouldn't have said. Anyway, I called him on a Thursday afternoon and asked him to do a favor for me. He said he would the next day and get back to me. His last words to me were "I love you son". My last words to him were "yea, me too." The next day I got a phone call from my dad's wife. He was gone. I could not believe it. The one person who guided me for my entire life was gone.
I know he is still with me, he is still watching over me. I really wish he could have meet Leeann and gotten to meet Katie. He would have loved her I have no doubt. But, I know that he is up there looking down on me. I just hope that he is standing proud, not standing beside me.
1 comment:
That was a sweet, sweet story. Thank you for sharing with us.
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