Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Dash




It is not the day we are born
nor the moment of our passing
that leaves a lasting mark.
It is the dash inbetween
the life we have lived
that shapes and touches our hearts.



February 15 1922 - August 11, 1992

Parkes Van Horn

My father was a wonderful man who accompllished many amazing things even though he had led a very difficult childhood.  His mother was sick for many years with MS, and passed away when he was merely 9 years old.  By the time he was 11 he was orphaned, and had to live with who ever would take him in.  He started working at the age of 12 as a door to door salesman.  Dispite all of his hardships he eventually went in the Navy as well as the Army, and served in WWII.  He worked his way through college graduating from Rice University in Houston, TX to become a aeronautics engineer.  He practically raised me and my brother by himself, and we never went without.  There is no way that I could ever attempt to fill his shoes, yet his integrity and example have carried me, and continue to move me forward.







55 comments:

  1. Lovely tribute Carrie

    ReplyDelete
  2. You are so right about it being what is in between that matters, Carrie! And I really enjoyed reading about your father, a self-made man with integrity!

    ReplyDelete
  3. A wonderful tribute to your father, Carrie!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I quite agree it's the space between that matters...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes it is the 'life' in between... your father sounds like a remarkable man and you are so proud of him.. what memories you must have.
    Lovely Magpie

    ReplyDelete
  6. A man who faced with adversity, overcame against all the odds. A man to be proud of - a wonderful man and father.

    The 'in between' is the legacy we leave. Great piece.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great tribute
    WOW so. That's what we are,what we've lived and left behind
    Smiles, my dear Carrie!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Absolutely true!!!I've always believed it's not what awaits us in the end of our journey that matters but the paths we choose to walk on as we go on our journey that matters.

    I bet as you are proud of your father,he must be really proud of you!

    A great write!!!A great tribute to a father from a daughter!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. oh what a beautiful tribute! Your dad must be a wonderful person... and you must miss him!.. i so agree with you.. its the dash in between...:)

    Blessings,
    Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  10. Excellent poem and tribute.

    And he looks way better in uniform than I ever did.

    ReplyDelete
  11. what a great tribute I have and aunt and uncle served in the Navy on Pearl and mu husband served in the Marines in Nam. I am honored in your sharing your fathers story I hope he is always remembered.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Amazing what one can do with their life. You must be so proud ...

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh how lucky were you to have a Dad that knew how to live the right life. Bravo to him and to your family.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Carrie, how blessed you are. What a great man.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You are blessed to have a father like that, and he is blessed to have a daughter to recognize it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. So very true and a wonderful tribute to your father!
    thank you for sharing this

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your father had quiet a dash. Beautiful tribute, Carrie.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you everyone for taking the time to read it....and for you sweet comments....i have enjoyed reading everyones takes on the prompt very much....look forward to Magpie every week Willow :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Good write! You Father was also a very handsome man! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  21. Quite a tribute piece. Nice Mag. Love and Light, Sender

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you Annell i think so to....:-)

    Hi Gabriela glad you stopped by. :-)

    Thanks for the compliment Sender...really enjoyed reading Annell's Gabriela and Sender...hope you all have a great weekend! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. "the dash in between" -- that's what matters, and the word dash can be taken two ways, the punctuation between the dates or the mad dash that is a life, over all too soon

    ReplyDelete
  24. A fine tribute to an inspirational father.

    ReplyDelete
  25. It is a quick trip in between indeed. Your father looked a dashing man too, on top of his other qualities. You must be so proud!

    ReplyDelete
  26. A lovely tribute to a fine man.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I really really like this poem, Carrie! The "dash" in between is also a metaphor for how quickly life passes. It truly is too short. You've expressed this so perfectly!

    Rick

    ReplyDelete
  28. how true..i try to use my dash well...before it ends...

    ReplyDelete
  29. This was such a beautiful tribute to your father and to life in general. Your father certainly traveled some difficult roads but he faired the journey so well to have succeeded in life as he did. He is certainly an amazing man!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Lovely tribute Carrie.. I so loved the way you used the dash in between...Your father was truly a winner...Cheers..

    ReplyDelete
  31. What a story, what a man! Beautiful.

    The metaphor of the crack as a dash is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you everyone for stopping by and reading it....your comments are a wonderful blessing! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wonderful tribute to your father. Sweet magpie!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Carrie, your father was an amazing man. Some people have so much but do so little. Your father sounds just the opposite.

    ReplyDelete
  35. A lovely tribute and surely a fine man!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh, your tribute to your father shows so much love, and so deserved from what you told us here. You were so lucky to be raised by a man with such integrity, Carrie.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thank you Southwest Arkie, Stevie, Tublewords and Lydia for stopping by and reading it....writing about my father is something i never tire of....i do miss hime very much.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Yeh..."the dash inbetween."
    Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Wonderful tribute... sounds like a great man who lived life leading by example.

    ReplyDelete
  40. smart one.
    well put and a lovely message for all to think and take.

    ReplyDelete
  41. This is an excellent tribute. It's wonderful to have heroes, and wonderful to have one in your own family.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Thank you Giovanni,Reflections,Jingle, and Jim your comments are a blessing especially on a Monday morning! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  43. The "dash" is one of my favorites. Always think of it when I see a tombstone. Your dad was an amazing person - he looks a lot like Elvis to me! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Wonderful poem, Carrie, and an amazing piece on your father! Clearly, you have followed his example of integrity, tenacity and dedication. I suspect he would be very proud of you...:)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Thank you theperfectionproject, and Lynette...for your sweet comments...and i have said that before, that he looked like Elvis when he was young...Lynette i always consider what he would think in all that i do....thank you for saying that....it makes my heart swell. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  46. carrie,
    Thank you for sharing this wonderful, heartfelt tribute to your father.
    It was very nicely written and so kind of your to share this very special memory.

    Best wishes,
    Eileen :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. carrie. this is an amazing piece, both the poem and your description of your father. hugs

    ReplyDelete
  48. your father led an inspiring dash...what a great write to give tribute and show your love!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Dear Carrie,
    It seems both of us are honouring our loved ones this week.

    A loving tribute indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Thank you Eileen Templeton Caty and Ninotaziz....this one was a special poem for me.
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  51. Oh Carrie! This was just perfect!!!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I'm sorry I haven't come by in a while to visit. This is a lovely tribute to your father.

    ReplyDelete

"Our best thoughts come from others." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson