Oakman,

  I'm sorry to hear what happened to you, but glad about what you are doing, now, for your boys.

  I met my real father once when I was about twelve or thirteen years old. We talked, his wife made us breakfast, and then he took me for a ride on his motorcycle. I had a great time, and when it came time for me to leave, he told me that if I wanted to keep in touch, that I should write him. Well, I never did write. My mother had told me once that he had beat her up, and I think it was because of that, I held resentment towards him. It wasn't until much later in life that I decided that I wanted to try to find him. I searched the internet off and on for years trying to find his contact information, but never could. It was about five years ago, now, I was doing another internet search, and I finally found him. I had found his obituary. He had died about three months earlier, at the age of seventy two. I still to this day wish that I had written him. Instead, I spent a lot of years just wondering what it would be like to have my dad in my life. I should have been more forgiving.

All the best to you and yours, Oakman.

On 2/18/2022 at 9:37 PM, Artifiction said:

Oakman,

  I'm sorry to hear what happened to you, but glad about what you are doing, now, for your boys.

  I met my real father once when I was about twelve or thirteen years old. We talked, his wife made us breakfast, and then he took me for a ride on his motorcycle. I had a great time, and when it came time for me to leave, he told me that if I wanted to keep in touch, that I should write him. Well, I never did write. My mother had told me once that he had beat her up, and I think it was because of that, I held resentment towards him. It wasn't until much later in life that I decided that I wanted to try to find him. I searched the internet off and on for years trying to find his contact information, but never could. It was about five years ago, now, I was doing another internet search, and I finally found him. I had found his obituary. He had died about three months earlier, at the age of seventy two. I still to this day wish that I had written him. Instead, I spent a lot of years just wondering what it would be like to have my dad in my life. I should have been more forgiving.

All the best to you and yours, Oakman.

That's a tough one my friend, but dont harbor any guilt. Your father could have been a better father, and made an effort to get to know you better.

I have held onto this guilt for many years thinking it was me who was the catalist for his demise. I had to realize that it was his decision to do the things he did, and not me. I've had alot of ups and downs in my life, but I always tried to do the best I could with everything I do. Whether it be making my wife and kids happy, being the best at work, or with my music or collecting.  All I can do in life is my best.

Thank you