My dad is back in the hospital

Hello all,

It has been a rough few days for me. My dad is back in the hospital in Omaha. This time, he is in Nebraska Medical Center. It is a lot like KU Med here in KC. It is the next step up from Methodist hospital. I hope they find something soon. It is driving my dad crazy not knowing what is going on in his body.

I went up this time alone. I wanted some time to just drive and reflect on what my dad has meant to me. So, I set the cruise control and started to turn the pages in my mind. Memories surfaced in strange patterns. I recalled the first time I followed him in his pick-up truck while we moved farm equipment from one location to the other. I think I was seven years old. I was very excited to finally be big enough to help out.

The page in my mind returned to the day I hit loose gravel while driving his pick-up. I was on my way to a neighbor's house to pick up a bed of hay for some pigs that were born the day before. The day was clear and bright. I wasn't going more than 40 mph when the truck started to slide sideways. I went off the road and hit a spillway head on. The only damage to the 1974 Chevy was a dent in the chrome bumper and the steering pulled to the left. I was not wearing a seat belt. My head hit the steering wheel. My first thought was my dad was going to kill me if I'm not dead. I pulled myself up to the road and walked the mile left to my neighbor's house. My dad was there in 2 minutes driving my truck Sam.

He inspected the truck and help to guide my neighbor pull the truck from the ditch. Never did he raise his voice or kick me in the seat. He calmly asked for my description of events which lead to his truck ending 90 feet away in a ditch. That was a day I will never forget. He could have been mad and told me I would never drive again. Instead, he helped me load the hay into his truck and told me take it home and finish what I started. I was 17.

Many other images flashed into my mind as the miles passed. Some blurred into the scenery, others stayed for a moment or two. Simply put, I cannot think of a memory of my childhood that doesn't involve my dad. I hope he starts feeling better soon.

-Andy