Eulogy for Dad
Dec. 11th, 2007 09:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninevirtuesI gave the final eulogy for my dad at his memorial service. I wasn't officially scheduled to speak, but they opened the floor for anyone who wanted to. I had hastily prepared remarks, and this is more-or-less what I said. I was happy with it. I guess grad school drilled into me the ability to speak in public.
"You all knew my dad as a short and sweet, no bull kinda guy. In his honor, I'll keep my remarks today short, and sweet. Although written," (holding up sketchy notes).
"Dad was a man's man, an outdoorsman, and he did so many things well. As a young man, he hustled pool, drove a stock truck, and worked as a cowboy. He used a soldering iron to make our Heathkit television, that we used for years."
That brought a ripple of laughter. I'm not especially sure why that was funny, but so be it.
"He could use a shotgun, and he kept us all fed with it. If you are what you eat, I am still-- to this day-- partly venison, duck, rabbit, and quail."
Another ripple of laughter. Dad was well known as a hunter.
"And dove," added my sister.
"And dove," I assented, then continued. "My dad grew fruit on his carefully tended fruit trees, and grew a garden every year. In fact, I think I'm still at least three percent turnip."
More laughter.
"But it was as a pilot and commander that Dad was best known. He flew in Korea; he flew in VietNam; he flew cargo planes all over the world; he flew for American; and he flew for the Civil Air Patrol. As he was best known, so let him be remembered-- as a pilot and soldier who served his country faithfully.
In closing, I'm going to tell you the origin of a phrase Dad used a lot. How many of you heard him say, "No charge"? (Aside: this was a phrase he really did use a lot, with a flourish, where the rest of us would say "you're welcome".)
Assent from the crowd.
"How many of you knew where it came from?"
Less assent.
Well, I'll tell you. Dad was flying over the Pacific, and he needed coordinates to... I don't know, London. (Aside: whoops... I definitely got that wrong.) He needed the coordinates and couldn't get them from the tower. He tried to raise the tower a few times, with no success, when an Aussie pilot came over the radio and relayed them for him.
"Thanks," said Dad.
"No charge, mate!" said the Aussie.
And that was that-- he used it ever since.
"You all knew my dad as a short and sweet, no bull kinda guy. In his honor, I'll keep my remarks today short, and sweet. Although written," (holding up sketchy notes).
"Dad was a man's man, an outdoorsman, and he did so many things well. As a young man, he hustled pool, drove a stock truck, and worked as a cowboy. He used a soldering iron to make our Heathkit television, that we used for years."
That brought a ripple of laughter. I'm not especially sure why that was funny, but so be it.
"He could use a shotgun, and he kept us all fed with it. If you are what you eat, I am still-- to this day-- partly venison, duck, rabbit, and quail."
Another ripple of laughter. Dad was well known as a hunter.
"And dove," added my sister.
"And dove," I assented, then continued. "My dad grew fruit on his carefully tended fruit trees, and grew a garden every year. In fact, I think I'm still at least three percent turnip."
More laughter.
"But it was as a pilot and commander that Dad was best known. He flew in Korea; he flew in VietNam; he flew cargo planes all over the world; he flew for American; and he flew for the Civil Air Patrol. As he was best known, so let him be remembered-- as a pilot and soldier who served his country faithfully.
In closing, I'm going to tell you the origin of a phrase Dad used a lot. How many of you heard him say, "No charge"? (Aside: this was a phrase he really did use a lot, with a flourish, where the rest of us would say "you're welcome".)
Assent from the crowd.
"How many of you knew where it came from?"
Less assent.
Well, I'll tell you. Dad was flying over the Pacific, and he needed coordinates to... I don't know, London. (Aside: whoops... I definitely got that wrong.) He needed the coordinates and couldn't get them from the tower. He tried to raise the tower a few times, with no success, when an Aussie pilot came over the radio and relayed them for him.
"Thanks," said Dad.
"No charge, mate!" said the Aussie.
And that was that-- he used it ever since.
