Tell me something cool about your parents

[Modem Butterfly]

Parents. We've all got 'em. Some are better than others. Some aren't. But all of them have at least one aspect that's cool. Tell me about your folks!

My parents love road trips. We drove all over the west coast, from Mexico to Canada. When I was a teenager, we drove from Oregon to Kansas and back again. Some of the best times of my childhood were on car trips. Last summer, my folks drove from Oregon to Georgia, stopping at every place along the way, from the Oregon Mystery Spot to Mt. Rushmore. They drove back in a big loop, picking up New Orleans, the Alamo, Carlsbad Caverns, etc., etc.. As an adult, I love a good road trip, too, from Oregon to Atlanta, naturally, but also from Atlanta to Key West and from Boston to Maine. I love nothing better than to get into a car and just take a drive. I got that from my parents. And that makes my folks cool.

[Patiod]

1. My Mom's dad hung out with Connie Mack

and they had the celebration party at her house for the 1930 A's winning the pennant (they went on to win the Series). Yesterday, my mom was remembering being 4 years old, and sitting on hall-of-famer Jimmy Foxx's lap while he signed autographs.

My dad sat with the other little boys on their front lawn, trying to get the players to sign baseballs for them.

A few months later, my mom's dad hit my dad with his car (kind of like in "Back to the Future"). Needless to say, he survived

[terrya]

2. They were married for 50 years.

I don't ever recall them arguing in front of us. If there were disagreements between them, they were kept from us.

They didn't provide us with a lot of material stuff. We didn't get the same stuff for Christmas as my more well off cousins got. Dad didn't make a lot of money. But he provided for us. Mom and Dad gave us a loving home.

There was a lot of love in our home.

My dad passed away a couple of years ago. From cancer. Mom still has a hard time dealing with it.

They weren't flashy or what some people might think of as "cool". But they gave us kids the best family.

[Modem Butterfly]

My folks never argued in front of us, either

My mother and my brother argued a lot. My dad and I would go on, what else? a car ride, usually to the beach for a couple of hours to let them cool off. My mom and my brother had a lot of conflicts. My dad's the quiet type, and I can't imagine him getting into an argument at all- he'd just sit there in stony silence, refusing to argue, refusing to change his mind. The unstoppable force and the immovable object.

[Bluzmann57]

3. My parents are cool

I'm 47 years old and have many fond memories of my parents. For starters, they are now retired and winter in Texas. They worked hard for Senator George McGovern in 1968, they were against the VietNam debacle, they did civil rights stuff in the late '60's. In fact I was riding my bike in the small lily white town I grew up in and got called a "nigger lover" by a local redneck. My mom explained to me that wasn't a good thing to do and ripped the guy a new one after I told her about it. My dad is a bit more conservative but still a die hard Democrat. He's a guy who had REAL values, trying to teach his children right from wrong and sacrificing a lot for his family. He was and still is a musician, although he doesn't play much guitar anymore because of arthritic fingers. Oh yeah, my parents were and are cool. In fact, I am trying to talk them into posting on DU when they get a computer. They may just do that.

[jrthin]

4. My Mom taught me...

not to accept crumbs. Mom died last August and this is her legacy to me: At seven or so I remember her taking me to birthday part. We got their late and there was nothing left of the birthday cake. The hostess, well meaning, wanted me to at least taste the cake, so she scraped together the crumb and gave it to me on a plate. My Mom sternly and quietly said to me, "you are not going to eat that. It's the crumbs she's giving you."

I was disappointed not to taste the cake and didn't understand the symbolism of the incident, but in the years to follow I would fully understand. Mom helped to give me the gift of self-esteem and not to accept crap. I love her and miss her.

[CanuckAmok]

5. My mom had Triumph motorcycles in England before she married my dad.

She and her first husband (my dad was her second) rode in a "club" in the 50s and 60s. She had Tigers and Speed-Twins (aka the Bonneville), and has a million stories and scars.

My dad was an East-London "wideboy" in the 50s...he worked for a Kray Brothers associate named "Ruby London", doing...collections. That's not particularly cool in reality, but it can be romanticised to a point, and usually involved excellent tailoring.

on edit: I would have preferred parents like Terrya's.

[Drifter]

6. My Dad is a farmer ...

Impecable work ethics. He and his brother owned the 100+ acre truck farm (bedding plants / produce), that their father (my grandfather) started when he was 18 years old.

My father worked an average of 80 hours a week. Most of the time he worked 7 days a week.

My father retired (sold off his half of the farm) about 10 years ago. His brother kind of screwed him regarding health insurance, so he now works freelance for several competitors.

He continues to keep himself busy as a farmer at age 78 (although not nearly full time). I have never met another soul who comes close to having worked as hard as my father.

"Farmers don't retire .... they die"

"Don't ever say anything bad about a farmer ... especially with your mouth full"

Cheers
Drifter

[CatWoman]

7. My mother and father both came from very large families

My mom's mom had 8 children, and my mom was the baby.

My dad's mom had 7 children, and my dad was the baby boy.

My mom's sister, my Aunt Marie, married my dad's brother, my Uncle Van.

[Modem Butterfly]

8. Wow! You must have a million first cousins

BTW, we really enjoyed meeting you Saturday night!

[CatWoman]

9. I have six sisters and three brothers

and yes, I do have a kazillion cousins. And neices. And nephews.

Plus, I have four grandchildren.

And I enjoyed meeting you guys as well!!! :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

24. A big YAY! for the big families!!

Family of 16 for my dad, and 7 for my mom. Best thing they did for me! Well, maybe not the best, but pretty damned cool.

I remember, must have been junior high before I realized that not everyone comes from a big family. A friend of mine said "Yeah, we're having the family over for Christmas". (We also had holidays with the family in my town, which was about 40-50 people). I asked him, "So, how many?" and he said, "The grandparents." I said, "That's it?" and he said, "That's all there is." It really confused me - I just couldn't wrap my mind around the idea of not having a shitload of cousins (I have 61) and aunts and uncles.

I was also surprised the first time I realized that people had grandparents who didn't live in the country on a farm. I've always felt sad about that - grandparents SHOULD live on farms. It just seems right and natural. Grandparents living in town, unless they live in Manhattan, is just wrong.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

10. My mom is a DUer!! Both my parents are PROUD liberals!

And.... they were HS sweethearts, got married right out of High School and just celebrated THIRTY-SIX years on Valentine's Day!

I have the coolest parents EVER!

[CottonBear]

11. While in college, my mom went on a date with Al Gore's cousin.

However, she married my dad who was a Republican. In fact, he belonged to the John Birch Society and considered running for governor of TN! I learned to be a politics and news junkie from him. (He died when I was a senior in high school. I miss him very much.) My mom never swears! She is a polite southern lady. The worst thing she's ever said is "oh, darn it all!"

My dad taught me to ride a bike, waterski, drive a boat, change the oil in my car and how to drive a stick shift car. The car was his beloved Porsche 912E.

By the way, it was so nice to meet you and your SO on Saturday!

[Shadow Drifter]

12. My mom and dad

were born on the same day and delivered by the same doctor on dec 3 and met in the 3rd grade and lived next door to each other.

[Seabiscuit]

13. In 2001 my mom said Bush "struts around as if he thinks he's President"

Unfortunately, she passed away a year later before she could come up with more zingers.

[Hardrada]

14. We were adopted by our Grandparents (Dad's side)

After folks split. They did a great job with us,they voted for FDR all four times (and all Dems after) and were married 70 years.Grandma was Dem. county chairperson. I am forever indebted to them. And I miss them and their whole generation (People born in 1890's) like crazy.

[liberalitch]

15. Cut from liberal cloth

Mom and dad (mickey and bucky) met in High School (Maury Norfok, va.)
married when my dad returned from serving in occupied Japan.

Had my brother and my sister, were VERY DEEPLY involved in the Civil Rights movement and later anti-Vietnam (I was the only kid in my neighborhood proud of my parents' arrest record).
Unfortunately Dad passed away in 1986 (Post-bomb japan remember) but mom is still active and aggressive at 75. I took her to see F911 and she told some woman who was outside protesting to "get out of my face before I clock ya one" (quote, unquote).... she's a beast!

[yvr girl]

16. My parents ran away and joined the carnival for a few summers

Our home was also a refuge. They took in foster kids and battered women. I didn't appreciate it when I was young, but I admire it now.

[RubyDuby in GA]

17. My parents

totally let me and my younger brother be who we were/are at all times. They never forced us into doing anything. They weren't strict, but set guidelines for us to follow.

I guess we followed them well because we're both good little Democrats (I'm more flaming liberal than he is, but who's keeping score?).

And I didn't enjoy meeting any of you guys Saturday. Atlanta DUers suck! - - - - Seriously just kidding there! I had a fantastic time. Can't wait until we all get together again!

[Jessica]

18. My parents live in a very rural part of

West Virginia, where I grew up & many of the high school seniors in the area simply can't afford senior pictures - the average package is $600 - $1,000 which is a lot of money for many families. My dad has always loved taking pictures - he's very creative & mostly does it as a hobby. But a couple years ago, he started taking senior pictures for kids who can't afford to get them professionally done.

And he doesn't charge anything for his services - they just have to pay to get their packages developed. Most have spent less than $100. I just think it's such a great thing he's doing - and his pictures are beautiful. One guy he took pictures of didn't bring very nice clothes for the photo shoot, so dad let him wear his sweater. He's the best.

:)

[fit4life]

19. They've been married over 40 years.

Never dated anyone else, and have been together since they were kids.

[regularguy]

20. I remember my (very suburban) mom voting for Shirley Chisolm.

[tigereye]

21. that is so cool!

my parents are: liberal Catholic Democrats. They love to read and talk and argue politics and they were very tolerant of pretty much everything. They loved a house full of people and gave us a lot of freedom as we got older.


fave story: I come home one night ( think this the summer after I started college) and say, "Mom, I'm high." And she said, "no, you're always like that." ;)

[regularguy]

26. Well we didn't read, talk much or have a heck of a lot of tolerance,

but we did argue! And my my Mom *did* vote for Shirley Chisolm!
:hi:

[LibertyLover]

22. My mom

My mom worked for Alexander de Seversky, the plane designer during World War II and afterwards until I was born. She got to travel with him a lot during the war and met many of the famous WWII aviators, including Chennault, Spaatz and Doolittle. Prior to America's entry into the war, she worked for Bundles for Britain, run by Churchill's spy - William Stephenson Smith. She told me about going down to the warehouses on the Hudson and East River to take inventories prior to shipments and sitting on boxes of TNT that were wired up to destroy the places if it looked like the Germans were going to invade. I got my love of WWII history listening to her tell about it. She died 5 years ago at the age of 90 and I miss her every day. I am sorry that she never got to see her granddaughter and that her granddaughter will not know her grandmother except through my stories.

[Canadian Socialist]

23. My mum & dad have been married for 52 years

They met during the Korean war. Mum was in the Canadian Army as a nurse and dad was in the British Army. Mum outranked my dad <lol>. They only dated a few times, and were engaged in Tokyo on New Years Eve at the British Officer's mess. Mum arrived with someone else and left engaged to my dad. The tramp. We've traveled all over the world and, just recently, they went back to India (dad was born & raised there). He wanted to see it one more time. They're both quite elderly, but still very active. Mum teaches Tai Chi (at 82!!!). Dad was on the local school board for years. Said someone had to counter-act the neo-cons in the area. BTW, this is in liberal British Columbia, so our idea of a conservative would more than likely be considered a flaming liberal in some of your red states. Anyway, my folks are the best. They always supported us in whatever we do.:loveya:

[Padraig18]

25. I remember their laughter most of all.

My Daddy was a storehouse of cute stories, jokes and funny songs and my Mam's laugh was enough to get you laughing all by itself, even if you had no idea what it was that made her laugh in the first place. Mam and Daddy were well-matched that way, and the utility of laughter in an extremely large family can never be under-estimated.

That's the coolest thing I remember about my parents.

:)

[MissMarple]

27. Roosevelt Democrats, and progressive.

Pro civil rights before it became "trendy" in the 60's. :D