A Father's Day Reflection

This podcast is your front row seat to inspiring stories of passion , resilience and the pursuit of happiness , so buckle up and enjoy the ride . Well , it's Father's Day 2025 , and happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there . If you've listened to my personal episodes , you know that in December of 2023 , my daughter gave me a service called StoryWorthcom .

The idea was I would get a question each week 53 of them over the course of the year and I would answer a question that she had selected . Since it's Father's Day , I thought I would go pull out one that related to fathers , and the question was what was your dad like when you were a child ?

My dad was the owner-operator of a big rig , which meant he was on the road most weeks . He was also incredibly mechanically minded , handling all of his own truck maintenance . Saturdays often revolved around oil changes , general repairs , tire replacements . Despite his demanding schedule , my dad was my hero , so much that he was my best man at my wedding .

My brother , my only sibling is nine years older than me . I've heard though I can't say this is for sure true that my dad once told my mom you raised the first one . This one is mine . Now . My brother is incredibly smart again one of my heroes super encouraging and always there for me . Before I was born , my dad owned a big Harley Davidson .

I need to ask my brother about it , since he actually sat on it and rumor has it he was told to get rid of it before I came along . When I was nine , my dad brought home a Rupp minibike . Rupp was an American brand which suited his preference for domestically made products . I don't even remember asking for a bike . I think it was his idea .

My mom , however , didn't seem thrilled , but my dad took me to the backyard and taught me how to ride . In later years I owned two bikes and occasionally he'd ride with me . That was a lot of fun . He also taught me basic car maintenance how to change the oil , rotate tires and just handle general , regular upkeep .

Even though he was gone often , my dad made time for us . I played basketball and he mounted a hoop on the roof of our house , designing the bracket himself to match the roof line and ensuring it sat exactly 10 feet from the ground . That hoop lasted for years , even after I moved out , until the roof was replaced . It was taken down .

Dad was a natural fixer . I remember one winter the furnace broke down while he was on the road . He told my mom he'd fix it when he got home , and sure enough he did . He wasn't much of a carpenter , he was more of that mechanically-minded guy , but that didn't stop him from building things For Linda and I .

He built this massive doghouse when we got our first dog . For Linda and I he built this massive dog house when we got our first dog . Now , this wasn't just a small shelter , it was huge . And speaking of dogs , we had one growing up . Dad brought him home from one of his trips . He called him a sidewalk setter Breed , since he was a stray .

When he found him no-transcript , and with most people he did have a tendency to put you in your place . He had a dry sense of humor , he was quick to lend a hand to anyone and he adored his own mother . She was widowed when he was just six months old . As he got older I saw his love for her only deepen . I never heard my parents argue or fight .

I'm sure they had their disagreements but they just kept them private . I remember when Dad would return home , sometimes early in the mornings , late night I could hear him and Mom talking in their bedroom . Dad was a car guy through and through . He loved Plymouths and Chryslers . He left us with this long list of cars he had owned .

I regret never asking him which was his favorite of cars he had owned . I regret never asking him which was his favorite . He did restore a 1946 Chevrolet pickup truck right on our carport Not a garage , a carport . Looking back , I still wonder how he managed to do that in such a small space . He had a 59 Chevy El Camino which I wish we still owned .

He swapped the engine and the column shifter for a four on the floor and that car would fly . Every time I descend the hill into Cincinnati or cruise along the Florida Turnpike in the early morning , I'm transported back to the summer of 1970 , a summer etched into my memory .

It was the season I spent in the cab of a 1967 Kenworth , riding alongside my dad and Willie Babb as they delivered produce and frozen fish across the eastern US . That summer was unforgettable , the time when I first discovered my love for the open road and the breathtaking beauty of this country . If only we take the time to truly see it .

Dad had a habit of taking the back roads . Maybe it was to avoid the scales in the truck , but I always believed he appreciated the quiet charm of those older highways . I'm guessing if he were making a run to Atlanta today he would try to find a back road .

You know he might choose Highway 27 , which was right in front of our house , over the busy lanes of I-75 . I was blessed with an incredible father and I hope my own children will be able to say that in 30 years . So if your father's still living , I encourage you to reach out to him .

Record some stories , enjoy time with him , because eventually they leave us . Happy Father's Day . Thank you for tuning in to Dan the Road Trip Guy . I hope you enjoyed our journey today and the stories that were shared . If you have any thoughts or questions or stories of your own , I'd love to hear from you . Feel free to reach out to me anytime .

Don't forget to share this podcast with your friends and family and help us to spread the joy of road trips and great conversations . Until next time , keep driving , keep exploring and keep having those amazing conversations . Safe travels and remember you can find me on the internet at dantheroadtripguycom .