Daley Travels

Funny how old memories will overwhelm you and flood you with emotions that you thought were well under control.

Such a feeling caught me by surprise this past week. (Most inconvenient to be all teary eyed eating an Apple Pie). Let me explain.

When you lose a loved one, I suppose there are a number of anniversary dates that catch you reminiscing. It might be their birthday, the holidays, or the date of their passing. For me, it's Father's Day. But this past week there was more than that.

I was on a motorcycle trip. Some of my best memories of my dad were of he and I headed somewhere on a motorcycle trip. Even when we were not riding together, I would call from some distant point I had ridden to and tell him about my day. When he died of cancer I was not sure I would love motorcycling any longer. It really took a 4 week ride to finally get it in my head that, yes, I do love riding. And while I still wish I could ride into the far reaches of America and still call to tell him about it, the love of adventure is the legacy he left me.

The last long vacation Dad and I took together was to Laughlin, NV for a motorcycle rally. I remember on the way back we both stayed at the Reno Hilton as a layover. I found a cheap online price to stay in a room, he was towing a travel trailer and stayed in the parking lot. This past Tuesday night found me in the exact same hotel with memories of that time hitting me like a hurricane. Did they hit me alone in my room with my private thoughts, did I get to hide my "sweaty eyes" inside my helmet while riding, of course not, I'm sitting in the middle of a busy restaurant dripping on my Apple Pie. Damn!

Another lasting legacy Dad left me is the value of hard work, and the importance of helping others needing a hand up. Even with little resources, you do what you can to take care of your family. Here he is building a simple decent home for our family. I am not sure we used the word, "sweat equity" but the concept was the same, you can do a lot yourself to reduce the final costs to a house.

I know he would love to hear of my going to Hungary to help another hard working father build a better life for his family. One such father is Sandor Novak. Sandor works as a baker in the town of Hajdúböszörmény, Hungary.  He is also busy putting in his own hours of "sweat equity"  to build a house for his wife and three children.

Father to father, I am excited that I am getting the opportunity to go and work with Sandor and two other families this August.

This Father's Day will you help this family, and others who are working hard to provide their own families a simple decent place to live?  Please go to this link, Global Village Hungary, and make as large a donation as you can.  All us fathers thank you.