Proud of Family, No Matter How Old They Are

While this blog is not really about Family Law, it is about family and recognizing when our children make you proud, no matter what age they are.

Misty and her Father's beloved Harley

My son Dale and his other half, Misty, recently went on a Poker Run in Plumas County.  If you are not familiar with a Poker Run, participants meet at a pre-arranged point, and pick up details of their route and the stops they need to make. Each participant is given a score card which will be filled in as they progress along the route. At each designated stop, the participants draw a card at random (or are dealt a card, depending on the event rules). The card drawn or dealt is recorded on each participant’s score card, and the winner of the event is the participant who makes the best five card poker hand at the end of the event. Events usually end with some entertainment at the designated “last stop” of the route, along with the awarding of the prizes. The organizers raise their funds by charging a set amount to participate.  In this case, the run was all about Hospice, which was near and dear to both Dale and Misty.

Misty lost her father to cancer on Father’s day two years ago and shortly after that her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away within that same year.  When her mother was diagnosed, Dale and Misty moved their family from the town they lived in, leaving behind friends and family to move in and care for Misty’s mother through her illness.

Both of Misty’s parents were cremated and their wish was to travel on the bike that Misty’s father owned, even after their death.  Dale and Misty inherited her father’s bike and they have been on many runs with her parents since their death.  You might wonder how this is possible? Well, a little bit of her parents ashes are carried in a small flask inside the saddle bag on the bike and no matter where they go, Misty’s parents are always with them.

Mom and Dad riding on their Harley

I am proud of Dale and Misty for giving up all they gave up to make sure that Misty’s mother was taken care of and when it came time for Hospice, both of them were able to work with them and they have honored Misty’s parents last wishes and have made sure they keep riding their beloved Harley to this day.

Dale and Misty on the Poker Run

Dale and Misty, in case I haven’t told you before, I am proud of both of you.  I know it has been a struggle for them and during the toughest of times when Misty’s mother was hospitalized at the end of her life, Dale lost his job and the economic slump hit and they have been struggling to keep things afloat ever since.

When Dale contacted me yesterday to tell me that their story was written in Thunder Roads Norcal Magazine, I had to check it out and let the world know as well.  I also had to let everyone know how proud I am of them too.  For more information on this story and many others in the magazine, see the link above.

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Seems that the Mother in this case has done everything in her power to alienate the party’s daughters from Father.  She has the children telling Father that he might be the biological Father, but their step-father is their actual Father.  The Court agreed with Father that Mother is alienating him and sentenced Mother to serve six alternate weekends in June, July and August in jail while Father has visitation with the girls.

Mother is appealing this decision and remains out of jail while they await the decision.  Even after all of this, according to Father, Mother is blaming him for her going to jail and it is further alienating the children from him.  Mother is still refusing to agree to any kind of settlement regarding the visitation with Father and is making everyone’s lives a living hell.  According to Father, the last thing he wants is for the parties’ daughters to see their Mother in jail.

Perhaps this Mother should not have the primary custody of the parties’ two children.  In California, it is what is in the best interests of the children, and by all accounts, Mother’s actions in this case are not in the best interests of the children.

Happy Father’s Day to All Fathers

Did you know that Father’s Day was only officially made a national holiday in the U.S. in 1972, when President Richard Nixon declared it to be the third Sunday of June? But the holiday actually traces its origins to early 20th-century Washington State.

Inspired by a Mother’s Day sermon she heard at church in 1909, Spokane resident Sonora Smart-Dodd—one of six children being raised by a single dad—also wanted to honor her father and she encouraged local churches to institute the first Father’s Day observance the following year, and the idea caught on.

Did you know that Fathers are celebrated in other countries as well but in different months?  Russia celebrates Fathers in February, Bolivia, Honduras, Italy, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Portugal and Spain celebrate in March.  Romania and South Korea celebrate in May.

This year, retail groups expect gift givers to spend an average of $94.32 on Father’s Day in 2010. For moms this year, shoppers shelled out an average of $126.90.

How will you be spending Father’s Day?  Are you lucky enough to have your father close by? Or does your father live to far away?  For me, my father has been gone since 1978, and while I miss him, I am lucky to have a wonderful step-father who I can call and wish a Happy Father’s Day.  I wish he lived closer, he lives in Oregon and I reside in California, so I could take him to a Giants game, (his favorite team).  But for now, a phone call will have to do and next time he is in California, hopefully the Giants will be playing and we can head to the city for a fun day.  To all fathers, Happy Father’s Day!

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