Leonard Gokey

 I find myself thinking of the most uneventful times that we had with you, just times that we were riding together in a vehicle or sitting playing cards at camp.  Those times , today I realize where the best times we had with you , Just the simplest times we had with you have become some of the most cherished in our memories. Those are the times that you were the Happiest relaxing .  Our Memories of being at camp with you and Mom , Aunt Fran and Uncle Roger,  Uncle Orvil , Aunt Marge,
Uncle Howard and Aunt Kitty are such happy times spent with you . Bring Aunt Stella up from the Dawn ,and Lillion rounded out the crew for a day of boating, Barbeque and story telling.   I am so fortunate to have been able to have these times each year with you everyone. It sure brings truth to the words " Cherish the times and the people in your life today for tomorrow there will only be memories" 

Its a diffficult time of the year not to have you dad here with us all , particularly difficult for Mom . This year she has seemed to do quite well on that front and with her conviction to prayer it seems that her Faith has once again helped her through. She has dealt with the problems of her health with courage as well and now again the power of prayer has brought her good news to her test results.   I was remembering a time when I must have been just 11 or 12 and it was Christmas Eve and Dad had me help him get some gifts from the car trunk with him.  It was a set of gourmet cook books that he had purchased at the store for Mom , and some other gifts that he wanted me to help him wrap.  Dad was so good in providing for us.  At New Years we would always have a late night buffet and we would watch the celebration in Times Square building up to the point at mid-night when the ball would drop.  it seemed like such good times and such simple ones , We were perfectly happy to see the events on the TV and never thought of or wanted to actually be there in Times Square . To Dad it was much more important to know that his family was home and safe to begin the New Year. This year for Christmas , with My own family we spent the Christmas much like Dad and Mom use to with thier family, We enjoyed each others company and stories , We set out a buffet of many of those recipies that Mom had made from her cook books and I had learned through the years of helping her prepare them for the same Celebration each year  ,We had some good neighbors and close friends join us for the evening  and we ended the evening with listening to an hour of Christmas Hymns sung by the Monks at the St Leo's University Abbey  afterwhich there was a Midnight Mass Celebration that was a beautiful tribute to the New Born King Jesus Christ.  All through this season I found us mimicking those yearly celebrations with Dad and Mom.  Being Home with your Family enjoying each others company and being safe and Thankful for all of Gods Blessings that has come Our way.  I think that this evening,  New Years Eve , we will do much of the same , enjoy each others company and stories , have some good food made with those old recipies I made with Mom years past  ,while watching the celebration in Times Square , till the finale when the Ball Drops . Then we can put our heads to rest, on the 1st eve of another year, being just as much Thanful for my family being safe and sound, as I am sure that Dad always was.  Happy New Year Dad and Thanks for always keeping us safe !  

As another father day passes , it reminds me of how precious the time was that I had with Dad
and how important it is for me to cherish the time I spend with my son amd make the most of it.
I remember one spring when Dad came and spent a week with us working  with Ted and I on building the garage at our home in Saugerties.  It was before the time that Dad had had his stroke and was able to cllimb a ladder still , He was quick to step up and take charge , and boy you had better listen to what he was telling you to do or else !!!   It was great to have had Dad spend those days with us helping us with our build and teaching us a few tricks he had learned through the years.
He helped build the railings and frames for our deck on the rear of our house, Ted would call out the numbers ,Dad would cout the trims to length , and I would nail them in.  These are times that passed through my mind this Father's Day . I found my self understanding that I was so fortunate to have had my Dad as long as what I did ( don't get me wrong if I could have had him stay a lot longer I would have ) , I think of all those that have lost their Dad's at an early age , Children that have lost thier Dad's in the war, and all those Children who on the eve of 9-11 were not going to have any more time to spend with thier Dad.  This makes me focus on the times we did have together and how fortunate we were to have those times.  It has taken a long hard time to get to this point but now I try to focus on the good fortune rather than the loss.  Happy Fathers Day !

Its hard not to miss you being here with us right now , It was always great to be able to call and wish you a good Fathers Day, if not be there with you to enjoy a meal  and hear a story or two, there are so many times I would like to hear your voice.
 I remember Years ago when I was much younger , the day that Grammpa Henry Gokey had passed away . Mom had called Dad home from the A&P to give him the news . It was just a month or two after we had relocated to the Hudson Valley.  Mom  met Dad at the door when he got home to give him the news , I was standing at the top of the staircase and saw Dad break down.  Mom tried to console him .  I don't think that I had ever saw Dad cry before that , I know that it had made me feel like he was hurt so bad and the look on his face was as though he had been punched in the stomach.   My Dad, who to me,  was the strongest Man ever , who seemed invincible was so hurt.  It was a hard time for all of us , as Grammpa Gokey was so loved by everyone .  It was not until Dad left us that I really understood the look on Dad's face that day or the pain that he was feeling.  It is a pain that remains , time helps but it still remains.  I wish I was able to hear your voice telling me that it will be all-right.     Happy Fathers Day !