To the Hide Faithful,
Today we celebrated my Dad’s Life, in fact i could not have asked for anything better. We laughed, we cried, we shared all the best and connected with friends and family on an emotional level sometimes missed in the age of social media.
My Dad lived a rich, full life, he touched so many people in more ways than I can count. He was a mechanic and more importantly a mentor to so many despite living in a small New England Town.
Acts of kindness you never knew were shared with me and my brother, these were the hardest because we both know, that was Len. Small, yet meaningful unselfish actions that touched people in long lasting ways.
He ran gas stations and repair shops, the number of adopted brothers I have is too many to list. Back in the day, the local schools used to give troubled kids credit if they went to work for Lenny. Show up, do your job and we’ll graduate you. That happened and not a one forgot the lessons learned. Try to find that in today’s world.
The man was a Tank, he had Cancer, Diabetes, Cataracts, was missing a Kidney and took dialysis weekly. He still worked, it’s what kept him going. This month alone he attended 4 Christmas parties and still managed to play Santa Claus for the kids at the Boat Club. Never once complained. His secret, go to work, do you job. That is what pushed me beyond the point of pain and exhaustion when I first went into the Marines. If the mission was, climb the Hill, the job is not over until you get the top. Do your job. His work ethic is unrivaled in the moderan era.
He was social, loved to sing, and was never without a joke. Mostly dirty, and like me, strung the curse words together in a sentence. It was only personal if you deserved it, otherwise it was just how we spoke. I come from a big family, and often that is what it takes to get a word in edgewise. My Cousin Mikey explained it like this, all my Uncles spoke the same manner. “If you say it hard and direct you react and don’t think, you just do”. With a family my size, they were training a platoon of kids, at least we moved like one.
Over the last few years as his health declined he still never complained, “Hey POP, how you feeling”, Ah, a little tired, but what do the Doctors know they are just licensed to practice, but I’m Cool. He used to entertain the patients at Dialysis, one woman was here today and only knew him from there. He was more worried about them, so why not brighten their day it costs nothing but a joke, and he had an endless supply.
Every customer was a friend, he took interest in their lives and helped anyway he could. He was that kind of guy regardless of his own issues.
It was the end of ERA in Stratford and the town rewarded him with a fond farewell. He looked better than I have seen him in ages. Yesterday I found a box of pens, he loved to hand out pens, everywhere he went he had a pocket full of pens with his name on it. So I brought the 1/2 box of pens and placed them next to him by the prayer cards. They all disappeared, it was funny because the funeral director asked me if i had more as they ran out. I have no concept of the turnout, I just know it was a perfect tribute to a life lived.
When I walked in the funeral home and saw the Flowers from, “The Hide” it made me proud. Proud and Thankful the members here did that for someone they never met. It proves this is more than a Website, it’s a community and no community is better than it’s members. I could build the prettiest house on the block, but if dirtbags move in, it’s still shit. You guys make this site what it is, your thoughtfulness carried those flowers to my Dad’s side. For that I will never forget.
Thank you to the Hide Members, thanks for turning this spark into a fire, and keeping me warm on a winter’s day.
I am not 100% sure what day I am back to work, few more loose ends to tie, but I know all is well.
With the New Year around the Corner take a moment to brighten another persons day, it’s made an impact on me, Thanks Len, lesson learned.
Rest Easy you reached the top of this hill,
Today we celebrated my Dad’s Life, in fact i could not have asked for anything better. We laughed, we cried, we shared all the best and connected with friends and family on an emotional level sometimes missed in the age of social media.
My Dad lived a rich, full life, he touched so many people in more ways than I can count. He was a mechanic and more importantly a mentor to so many despite living in a small New England Town.
Acts of kindness you never knew were shared with me and my brother, these were the hardest because we both know, that was Len. Small, yet meaningful unselfish actions that touched people in long lasting ways.
He ran gas stations and repair shops, the number of adopted brothers I have is too many to list. Back in the day, the local schools used to give troubled kids credit if they went to work for Lenny. Show up, do your job and we’ll graduate you. That happened and not a one forgot the lessons learned. Try to find that in today’s world.
The man was a Tank, he had Cancer, Diabetes, Cataracts, was missing a Kidney and took dialysis weekly. He still worked, it’s what kept him going. This month alone he attended 4 Christmas parties and still managed to play Santa Claus for the kids at the Boat Club. Never once complained. His secret, go to work, do you job. That is what pushed me beyond the point of pain and exhaustion when I first went into the Marines. If the mission was, climb the Hill, the job is not over until you get the top. Do your job. His work ethic is unrivaled in the moderan era.
He was social, loved to sing, and was never without a joke. Mostly dirty, and like me, strung the curse words together in a sentence. It was only personal if you deserved it, otherwise it was just how we spoke. I come from a big family, and often that is what it takes to get a word in edgewise. My Cousin Mikey explained it like this, all my Uncles spoke the same manner. “If you say it hard and direct you react and don’t think, you just do”. With a family my size, they were training a platoon of kids, at least we moved like one.
Over the last few years as his health declined he still never complained, “Hey POP, how you feeling”, Ah, a little tired, but what do the Doctors know they are just licensed to practice, but I’m Cool. He used to entertain the patients at Dialysis, one woman was here today and only knew him from there. He was more worried about them, so why not brighten their day it costs nothing but a joke, and he had an endless supply.
Every customer was a friend, he took interest in their lives and helped anyway he could. He was that kind of guy regardless of his own issues.
It was the end of ERA in Stratford and the town rewarded him with a fond farewell. He looked better than I have seen him in ages. Yesterday I found a box of pens, he loved to hand out pens, everywhere he went he had a pocket full of pens with his name on it. So I brought the 1/2 box of pens and placed them next to him by the prayer cards. They all disappeared, it was funny because the funeral director asked me if i had more as they ran out. I have no concept of the turnout, I just know it was a perfect tribute to a life lived.
When I walked in the funeral home and saw the Flowers from, “The Hide” it made me proud. Proud and Thankful the members here did that for someone they never met. It proves this is more than a Website, it’s a community and no community is better than it’s members. I could build the prettiest house on the block, but if dirtbags move in, it’s still shit. You guys make this site what it is, your thoughtfulness carried those flowers to my Dad’s side. For that I will never forget.
Thank you to the Hide Members, thanks for turning this spark into a fire, and keeping me warm on a winter’s day.
I am not 100% sure what day I am back to work, few more loose ends to tie, but I know all is well.
With the New Year around the Corner take a moment to brighten another persons day, it’s made an impact on me, Thanks Len, lesson learned.
Rest Easy you reached the top of this hill,
