Today is my dad's birthday...he would have been 80 years old! He passed away from cancer when he was 63. I talked to my mom last night (she still lives in Canada) and we were of coarse talking about him and thinking about the past....to be totally honest he wasn't the best father or husband.....my mom and I went through some really difficult 'stuff' with him.....it left emotional scars....things I'm still trying to work on today...my confidence, self-esteem....but one thing my dad taught me is that nothing in life is black and white....there is a whole lot of grey....he did change thanks to my mother who stuck by his side when I think most women would have just left....she tells me it's because she knew he had a good heart...and he did. I'm not going to talk about the bad 'stuff' because I forgave him for that and it's in the past....a lot of people who knew him say he should have written a biography...he really should have....he had a tough life...loosing his father in the war at a very young age and being the oldest he had to provide for his mother, brothers and sister....
My mom and dad (no that's not his hair and mustache!! a wig and fake mustache)....before I was born.
Last night my mom said she wished he was here to see my kids....(he passed when I was 21...before I got married)....I see so much of him in my kids especially my oldest Marko....thankfully all the good! lol
I have a lot of my dad's traits...my crafty, good with my hands comes from him, loved sports....he was also very romantic, LOVED animals, people and life! He couldn't care for material things...I have never met anyone like him....you could not impress him with anything material (cars, houses, this brand or that)...he always use to say I won't be taking that to the grave with me..lol..morbid but true!....he was definitely 'grey'.
I wanted to celebrate my father and his brothers (who have all passed away...my uncle died last summer...he was the last in the family to go)...being that it is almost Father's Day...with a small giveaway.
Three brothers....so alike and so different at the same time...my dad was the wild one, the one you didn't want to mess with! LOL!
From the left: Milan, Zvonko (don't you love his hair!!), Petar (my dad, the oldest...I believe he was 14 in the photo...I love this photo)
My uncle Milan who died when he was 47 was a beautiful soul....I don't remember him but that's what everyone told me .....I mean everyone....I found this newspaper article my dad kept of my uncle's passing....it basically says what a wonderful and sweet man he was...not a mean bone in him.
And then there's my uncle Zvonko....he was the charmer of the three!! lol When I was little I thought he was Elvis!! Does anyone else see the resemblance?? :) Don't you just love looking at photo of your parents (and family) before you were born! This month it will be a year since my uncle passed away. I miss them all!
So...I'm giving away this perfect stamp set, perfect for your masculine cards....
Just leave a comment and I'll randomly choose one winner on Father's Day!
xo
Pop on over to the Jane's Doodles blog and check out Eva's hybrid card using our free bunny digi! :)
24 comments:
I too love looking at old photos - in fact I am slowly scrapping some of them so that they are preserved and the story is told while it can be. Thanks for the chance to win this fun set!
I do love looking at old family photos and yours are as interesting to me as mine. Uncle Zvonko does resemble Elvis! The photo of the three of them as boys is priceless.
Thank you for posting them and for a chance to win It's a Guy Thing.
Thanks for sharing so candidly and lovingly about your family. Love that old photo of the 3 boys. I lost my Dad when I was 21. I have only good memories of him. He drowned and his body was never recovered.
I love old photos! I wish I had more of my family.Thank you for this chance to win these cute stamps!
What a lovely post! Thank you for the chance to win some great stamps, too!
Thanks for sharing about the men in your life. Loved seeing the photos!
{hugs}
Indy
I'm glad you keep all the good memories. I do love looking at old photos too, and being so far away from my family is a great comfort to at least see their pics. I'm moved by your post. thanks for sharing.
Hugs!
Aw. Thanks for sharing some of your story. I am sorry about te passing of your father and uncles. I am glad you have your mom to see your kids. :)
Thanks so much for sharing this with us Jane! It is really neat to see your parents in their prior lives, and lovely to hear that your father was able to change in his! (P.S. no need to put me in for the giveaway...I already have this wonderful set, and in fact was using it just the other day.)
I love looking at old photos too. I hope to work with my mom on her photos to make sure I know who they all are.
Thanks so much for opening your heart ~ not always an easy thing to do :) Old photos are so fun! Thank you for the chance to win this adorable stamp set!!
žao mi je zbog vašeg tate i ujaka. ja sam također izgubila mamu zbog raka dok sam imala 17 godina.također nebude uopoznala svoju unuku. jako mi je žao zbog vašeg gubitka. Ja naažalost nemam puno slika svoje majke.
Great post Jane :) Hugs Judith
Thanks for sharing about your family's past. Sending {{{HUGS}}}
I love looking at old pics too. I actually have some of my mother in laws albums here so I can scan some of my hubbys old pics. Remember the good things - My dad passed when I was 24 (also before my wedding and children) and I miss him heaps, a truely lovely person. My mum and I didn't have as nice a relationship, but I too try to remember the good things.
Thanks for the chance to win one of your fab stamp sets.
Love your post Jane - so lovely to remember those that have passed. I love looking at old photos too - so nostalgic. Thanks for the chance to win.
You wrote a wonderful post about all those men in your family :)
It's the right thing to keep them all in good memory :)
thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photos and your memories with us. it's been almost 21 years since my dad's been gone, but I still miss him every day. I made a card for him for Father's Day this year. some years I just feel the need....
thank you for sharing. it brought tears to my eyes.
Thanks for sharing you story and for the giveaway.
My dad passed on when he was 50 and I was just 9 years old but he was the greatest dad/husband/brother/uncle/friend..
Till today, I remember every single event that had transpired in the first 9 years of my life...everything is so vivid and crystal clear because I refuse to let of my memories of him.
Thanks for sharing this piece about your dad.
I know the feeling about how you wished that he was around for your graduation/wedding/chidbirth....
Wishing you a great day today.
Hugs and warm wishes from warm Malaysia
Usha
usharaneem@yahoo.com
Hvala za giveawaj povodom tatin-dana! Kod nas u Hrvatskoj se baš i ne zna za to. Rijetko i za majčin dan, žalosno...
It's really special to hear that despite the "stuff" you went through with your dad, you've forgiven him and have created a happy life for you and your family. P.S. your mother seems like a very strong woman!
Fabulous photos and such a heartwarming tribute to your dad and uncles! I am so blessed to still have my dad and uncles - so my heart goes out to you. Cherish those beautiful memories! :)
thank you for sharing a part of your personal story. thanks for the chance on the giveaway.
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