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A Father's Stories - An Introduction

Tom Brown
Tom Brown 1933-2006
My Dad is dead. This is not news. Tom Brown died almost fifteen years ago in a nursing home in Myrtle Beach, SC, while I sat by his side, holding his hand, as he transitioned from this world to whatever comes next.

With him left the stories of his 73 years. Stories of growing up on Long Island. Stories of being drafted and going to Korea. Stories of hauling milk from upstate New York. Stories of running a business. Stories of being a volunteer firefighter.  While I can remember bits and pieces of some of his life I know that the details are sadly lost forever.

Dad never met his grandsons and he passed when Sam was only 8. Our time in this world can be so short sometimes; even at 73, and his grandchildren will never hear those stories as he remembered them.

As it stands now, only one of my three kids has any interest in who I was growing up. I don’t blame them; I don’t think I showed much interest in my dad’s life either.  I understand that. It’s hard to sit at the feet of the man who tells you mow the lawn and take out the garbage and listen to his stories. 

It is in that spirit that I am writing this blog. I know that one day I too will be gone and along with my stories. Stories of growing up in the Hudson Valley, being a New State Trooper, serving my country for over 30 years, having children and the ups and downs along the way.  I want to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren so they have some picture of who I was.

As time allows, and memory holds out, I will put it down here. If you are reading this I will stay as honest as I can and avoid embellishing – the best stories are the ones that are true.

 

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