THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506170109
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
Father's Day is a time for considering the special relationship between a child and a father. Two readers have shared personal letters that demonstrate that the love goes both ways. To Dad,
Letter from Dean Ketchem of Woodshire Circle in Chesapeake to his father, William L. Ketchem of Steuben Street, Chesapeake:
Dad:
I was going to make a video and tell you what I have to say. But sometimes the words don't come out right. I have had a lot of people tell me that I can write what I feel a lot better than saying the words. So here goes.
Not too long ago, I lost a friend at my work. He was 50 when he had a heart attack and died. It was very sudden, and a great shock to everyone. He left behind three sons. At the time, he did not get along too well with them. When he died there were still a lot of hard feeling with one of his sons.
I have done a lot of soul-searching since the funeral. No, I don't have cross feeling about you. Sometimes we haven't seen eye to eye, but that's the way it is. I am not mad. I just wanted to let you know that I do love you. I am very lucky and happy to have you for a dad.
You have taught me more than you will ever know about a lot of things, and I will always be thankful for that. That has been the greatest gift any son could have. There are lot of things you and I have in common. Some may be bad, like some stubbornness and a short temper - all right - a lot of stubbornness and short temper.
The good things outweigh the bad by a great deal. The values I have are values I learned from you.
When I was growing up, I saw you go to work and come home. You worked in the heat, cold, rain, snow and sleet. A lot of times, I have seen you take off your work shoes and your feet would be wet, wrinkled and brown from your wet work boots.
You worked a lot of long hours in nasty weather to make sure that your children had shoes to keep our feet warm. We never did without shoes or clothes or food. You damn near died one time trying to make a living for us.
I know that's why sometimes I work long hours for my family - because of your example.
When I was young, I enjoyed it when you came home early in the morning and woke me up with the same old line, ``Rise and shine on the N&W line!'' Then you would make breakfast for me.
As I got older, we did a lot of fishing and had a lot of good times. We caught some fish at times, no matter what mom and Barbara say. But some of the best fishing trips we ever had was when we didn't catch a thing, but we did a lot of talking.
You taught me a lot about life, about the way people should be understood and treated and about hard work and pride. We ended a lot of the conversations with talk about football games we had seen. I miss those conversations.
That's just a few of the things I remember. There is really not enough paper to explain how much you have taught me.
Maybe that's why sometimes when I look in the mirror, I am looking back at you. It make's me very proud to feel that way.
I just wanted to say that I am my daddy's son. I have learned my lessons well.
I really don't know how to thank for everything you have taught me, but it has been a great learning experience. It is still a learning experience. I hope it will continue for a long time.
I am sorry that at times I have sounded ungrateful. I am not ungrateful. I hope that in the future, I can spend less time working, and we can go fishing more.
I love you.
Your youngest,
Dean To my children,
Letter from Henry Johnson of Norfolk to his daughter, Donna McCarty of Yancy Court in Chesapeake, and her brothers.
Thank you for the gifts. I not referring to the tangible gifts but, the gifts of love and respect you have given me over the years. You often ask me what I want for for Christmas, my birthday or Father's Day. What could I possibly want that you haven't already given me? The love and respect you have given me far surpasses any material gift you could give.
Many fathers today experience disrespect, hatred, physical and mental abuse and total absence of love. I am fortunate to have been spared this unpleasantness.
Through the lean years, when you were young children, you were always at my side, displaying love and respect that has never faltered. What more could a father want than what you haven't already given?
You have blessed me with loving grandchildren, plus a son-in-law and daughter-in-law who take second place to no one. What more could a father want than what you haven't already given me?
Many of my friends and relations have never experienced the pleasure of enjoying their children, due to the absence of love and respect. I have been spared this. I consider myself one of the richest men in the world - not financially, but with an abundance of love and respect.
You ask me what you can give me for Father's day. What could you possibly give me that you haven't already given me?
With much pride I walk down life's highway with three of the greatest children a father could expect. What more could I ask?
Love,
Dad by CNB