Father's and Grandfather's Day Memories. Life Lessons learned from dad and grandpa, as well as a fun song to boot!
Pic: Dad from WW II
One of my late dad's (Andres N. Horcasitas Jr.) most recognized quotes was "C'est la vie," which is French for "Such is life." While he was of Spanish descent and had his share of Hispanic quotes, the French one was most related to his personality.
I certainly inherited his eternal optimism that he would exhibit so readily when coping with life. As a Tulane Graduate who endured 25 years of losing to LSU in football till 1973, he certainly had to make that commentary for quite awhile! Thanks, Dad, for helping me to always look at the positive side to life and death.
As the youngest of the three children for my late Catholic parents, I used to tease my wife that the reason I am such a lousy dancer is that I was born “out of rhythm” and, as my beloved mother used to tell me, I was a “welcomed mistake.”
It was so special when dad and a late Uptown neighbor, Eugene Bergeret, who had been a K&B Pharmacist and had lettered with the Tulane Football team in the 1930s, came home from Tulane Stadium that night on December 1, 1973 to celebrate that momentous Green Wave victory over the LSU Tigers and got to pop open a bottle of champagne they had been saving for many years!
Dad had such enthusiasm and optimism that he was even able to convince some of my “Greatest Generation” uncles, who were usually skeptical about investing into things, to begin getting investments in their employment opportunities (AT&T/South Central Bell) and even in the stock market. One of dad's favorite “diversified portfolios” was “Tricontinental.”
And dad's encouragement to others about investing was not for the chance to get any commissions, since he never had that connection. He sincerely wanted to help folks better plan for the future - something most of us would never hesitate to do nowadays.
Dad always reminded us and anyone how much of a “lucky guy” he was, as he would fondly relate about Mom, the love of and for his life! He noted that he was tagged as a “confirmed bachelor” in his mid 30's, and while he had dated many gals, he knew who God had in store for him when he met my mother.
He would also teasingly relate to us and others many times about a rather plump classmate, Rosita, who became fond of dad as he had innocently been helping her in college with learning Spanish. Dad noted that when she had invited him over to eat as a favor for his teaching lessons, Rosita's parents were also giving him extra food portions and wine as well as giving hints about him making a more permanent commitment to her. Dad, in a very tender way and without offending Rosita, was able to keep that relationship platonic.
Since dad was about 12 years older than mom, dad was not sure if he had a chance to win mom over. He met her when he went to the doctor to get a physical and also to get his eyes checked. My mother, while not a nurse, did many things for Dr. LaRose, a General Practitioner. So as dad was getting his preliminary reviews by mom, before Dr. LaRose came to exam him, dad would always relate that he said to himself then as he was beholding mom for the first time, “My eyes seemed to get better!”
Here's a song that I wrote for dad and all dads and even made a Youtube for (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDD8PKdWC1A ):
This is a song for my daddy
And for all other daddies too
We all have/had one in our lifetime
So let's honor them for true
This is a special day
For it comes just once a year
Father's Day is for our papas
Let's celebrate it with a cheer - so let's sing:
CHORUS:
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day
We love our fathers dearly
They've loved us all the way
When we got in trouble
It sure seemed like it was hell
We know that they really loved us - shucks,
They've brought us up so well
Now my daddy was a bachelor
They said that he was confirmed
He had some dates and one with Rosita
But plumpness was not what he yearned
He went to get his eyes checked up
And met a Kleinpeter, Mercy, by name
His eyes abruptly got refocussed
His bachelorhood lost its fame - so let's sing
CHORUS
Now I came along as a mistake
Out of rhythm, I was number three
After Helen and David, I'm the caboose
I came unexpectantly
I used to like my daddy's thumb
He taught me Little League baseball
He's always been a super dad
To me, the greatest one of all - so let's sing
My grandfather, Andres N. Horcasitas, Sr., was also very influential on me and had been a very involved New Orleans community person who had moved from Mexico to New Orleans in the 1920’s for health reasons. Although he never obtained US citizenship, he eventually became the first in that status to be able to lead as the President of the Rotary Club in NO. Being fluent in Spanish and English, he was able to develop many international ties with Mexico and other Latin American countries.
My grandpa was also an active participant in many other civic groups like the Chamber of Commerce, Head of the Mexican Government Tourist Bureau, a professor at Tulane University and one of the participants who helped the founding members of the Sugar Bowl Football Classic that used to be held at Tulane Stadium. It was fun as a kid to be able to get those free tickets to those bowl games!
Grandpa taught my dad, Andres N., Jr., many important aspects to working with people and cultivating relationships with them. He was known as the “last word” on “thank you” notes. If someone took the time to send him a note thanking grandpa for the thank you note that he had originally mailed to the person for something, grandpa would send another thank you note thanking the persons for their thank you notes! I find myself trying to do that sometimes like grandpa!
So once again, "Happy Father's Day" to all dads! While some may have or had difficult relationships with their fathers, it is never to late to pray and forgive them and ask for healing in what may have occurred. The pains may never go away, but the wounds need a chance to be healed if at all possible. Peace,
Keith Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA, 1133 Knollhaven Drive, BRLA 70810, khorcasitas.yahoo.com, June 2, 2013.
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One of my late dad's (Andres N. Horcasitas Jr.) most recognized quotes was "C'est la vie," which is French for "Such is life." While he was of Spanish descent and had his share of Hispanic quotes, the French one was most related to his personality.
