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Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:06 pm

I got word a couple of hours ago... my dad died at age 71

I mention this because my dad was a VW Certified Air Cooled Specialist, back when VWs were VWs... even though we have been on opposite sides of the country for the past few years, he could talk me through procedures, tell me what size socket wrench I needed (without looking and all from memory) for a particular job and had many helpful hints about VWs.

When I had my Bus, he could tell me the valves were slightly off... just by listening over the phone... 3000 miles away.

Growing up, he more often than not had a Bug or a Bus to tool around in. I didn't see a whole lot of him (we lived with my grandmother...) but when we did, his influence was great. I fell in love with those VWs!

In '83, he gave me my first car... a '66 VW Beetle, 6 volt running a rebuilt engine from a '69 Bug. When the floor was rotting out due to those great New Jersey Winters, he suggested I look for a new Bug body. I found a '64 Bug, sans engine, for $50.00. We towed it to his house, he took the engine out of the '66 and put it into the '64.

When I started getting back into Vee Dubs last year (the REAL ones), we got a lot closer. Any dumb question I had he answered. I learned fast and we spoke as equals on the subject of our air-cooled passion.

I saw him 2 months ago when I flew back to Jersey. He gave me all his old tools (since he hadn't worked on a Bug in about 20 years, I suppose)... his health has been bad the last few years and we knew it wasn't going to be long.

I can't believe he's gone...

I just wanted to share

Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:20 pm

RIP "Dad"
cool story

Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:41 am

Sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing your story.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:22 pm

It'll be real nice to use those tools. Sort of like having your dad there with you.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:36 pm

I lost my daddy in 1995.I inherited alot of his tools and every time i use one I think of him.God bless you,I am very sorry for your loss.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:53 pm

Sorry for your loss,My dad to is a old school vw guy.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:04 pm

So sorry for your loss. I know what your going thru as I lost my dad in 2001. he was 55 years old. be strong and it will get better every day. god bless you and your family. thnx for sharing.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:25 pm

I hate to hear it man, I just lost my Dad June 7th this year. It's rough I know, just keep talking to him and he'll help you thru.

Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:00 am

Thanks for the replies and encouragement. I fly out to Jersey Monday... missing the viewing, but the funeral is Tuesday.

I named my Bug "Davison" when I first got him some months ago, since that's my dad's middle name and my first name is David, it ties us together.

And, yep... the tools he gave me make a difference and they are even more special to me now that he is gone. It does feel like he's there helping. I remeber all these tools from when I was a kid and just seeing them is a strong reminder of him.

Thanks again!

Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:42 am

I'm so sorry for your loss, David. Have a safe trip. I'm glad you and he had the chance to grow closer, even through cars, before he passed.

Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:42 am

Got back Monday night... got a couple of more tools and a picture of a '65 Bus and '70 Karmann Ghia he had on the wall... he had a picture of a '73 Super Beetle, which I hung up on my 5 year old nephew's wall (mini-me) that will hopefully inspire the next generation

Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:44 pm

I hope you are coping well! You'll find you're fine one minute and then the next it hits you like a ton of bricks. I'm just going off what I'm going through and feeling the last five months.

Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:08 pm

I'm glad that you had a safe trip. Tools actually are great to have; I can't tell you how many times I think of my Grandpa every time I use a few of his tools that I have.

Sat Nov 29, 2008 3:36 pm

Thanks again!

Fifty-five... you are sooo right about the emotions. Now that I'm back in my real-life, it's tough!

Sat Nov 29, 2008 9:22 pm

Yeah man It's Rough! Just fall back on all the good times and all he showed you about life and you'll find he is still there with you now!

Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:07 pm

delliot,
Just read your post, and you are in my prayers. Two years ago my Dad passed away 6 months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 87. Dad was an airframes mechanic for the military for years until his retirement in 73. It seemed he could do anything with his hands. In his retirement he repaired outboards, taught himself to weld, cut and sold firewood, raised a huge garden, fished, maintained his own cars, travelled all over the country with Mom in their RV, helped me build a baja bug (and rebuild the engine) back in the 80's. The time working on that car are some of the happiest memories I have. I seem to have inherited some of his mechanical abilities, as I work in electronics, for hobbies I do woodworking, fishing, and of course wrenching on my 69 VW 'vert.

Dad died in September 2006, and Mom the following December.

Two years later and I still miss them. If you want tears from me, play Alan Jackson's song "Drive."

"Just an old dirt road with trash on each side
But I was Mario Andretti when Daddy let me drive."

Dad and me, in 1961 (i was two)

Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:40 pm

Thanks Fred!

Things have been better in the past few days... working on the Bug is hitting the home stretch.

Funny... Fred, your tag line refers to the "New Beetle"... Dad and I referred to that car as a "water-cooled imposter"

heh heh

Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:06 pm

My wife wanted a new car, couldn't talk her into a microbus, so we traded in the Impala for the new "beetle".

Me and Dad with my Baja in 1982