35 Comments
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Corrie's avatar

What an interesting person, and so full of love for his kids! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

I am overwhelmed hearing this. Writing this story has made me so happy.

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Ed Koenig's avatar

We hear so much these days about fathers who abandon their families and children. I'm grateful to read this beautiful piece about a father who did his best for his children with what he had -- an example for our turbulent times

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Deborah Way's avatar

Agree ❤️

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

When I hear stories of children abandoned by their fathers, I am always grateful for the father I had.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

❤️

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Ellen Bayer's avatar

What a beautiful tribute to your dad’

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

Thank you. I appreciate that you saw that.

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Chris J. Rice's avatar

What a beautiful father. There when it counted.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

Yes he was and I loved how you said "counted".

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Jamie C McAloon's avatar

It was a nice escape to a past that seemed idyllic.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

It was idyllic in every way.

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Maggie Delaney-Potthoff's avatar

That ledger is precious. His wit is my favorite kind! What a gift.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

He was very funny and he had the best laugh.

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Victoria Hemingson's avatar

I love this story so much. Made me cry. You were lucky to have such a wonderful father.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

It makes me cry also. But a grateful happy cry.

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Martha's avatar

Loved this tribute. It made me want to know more about your father. What an interesting and remarkable man he was.

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Deborah Way's avatar

I would be happy to read so much more about him 💓

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

Thank you for helping this story come to life. My mind is so full of memories. Perhaps I can write more stories in the future.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

I have so many stories. It was hard to only have room for a few.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

Yea, he was amazing.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

❤️

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Kate Walter's avatar

Beautiful piece of writing about a divorced father's love for his children and his desire to make them happy. The ledger was such an incredible discovery.

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Deborah Way's avatar

I love your distilled description ❤️

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

Thank you Kate. It was thanks to being in your class that opened this door for me.

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Kate Walter's avatar

You're welcome. You worked very hard on this piece.

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

I still remember finding the book. My brother, Jack, and I were so amazed when we read the entries. We thought we knew everything about our father. It was a shock.

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Miss DP's avatar

I love him, your dad; he was so imaginative and obviously gifted with his hands. I am glad your memories of him, especially when you were younger, are so strong. I love a ledger. My mother grew up on a farm, and they were very poor. My grandfather had a ledger where he recorded every expenditure from the early 1900s till the farm was sold in the 1950s. I remember one entry that said, "borrowed twelve dollars from Uncle John to pay taxes." Not only is that ledger a reminder of what it takes to survive, but what history should have taught us. Thanks for sharing your story.

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Deborah Way's avatar

They conjure up a whole world, for sure. Hope you—or someone—still has that ledger 💓

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Sharon Senkiew's avatar

Your dad sounded amazing- thank you for sharing him with us!

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Deborah Way's avatar

Thank you for reading 💓

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Halina Fitzpatrick's avatar

When I started writing, I never thought of all the feedback I would get. I thank you for yours.

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Martha Chabinsky's avatar

A lovely story about your dad. Would that we all had such a man love us when we are small.

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Deborah Way's avatar

💓💓💓

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Shldntbeashamed's avatar

What can I say that hasn't been said already? I love your story. Your dad seems like a magical person with a huge heart, to sacrifice so much to make his children happy. It's heartbreaking and so beautiful too. 🥹❤️‍🩹👍

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