One day during kindergarden I stood before my classmates and shared my favorite “show and tell” to date: “My dad is a Minnesota Viking.” No, not the Scandinavian seafaring warrior type-viking, but a player on the pro-football team. This expose instigated one of many “May I speak with you?” conversations between Mrs. Webster and I. But you see, I wasn’t lying—not on purpose, anyway. At the time my dad worked nights at UPS. When he came to tuck me in, all suited up in his uniform, I thought he looked precisely like the valiant athletes on TV.
If you caught my earlier post today, you know that in the years since, my dad built a successful career with UPS, contributing to work I find far more admirable than football or fame. In honor of his retirement I decided to share one of the many gifts he’s given me: a love of music. The day he introduced me to John, Paul, George and Ringo, I had four fab friends for life—five, if you count my guitar. 😉
When I hear “Norwegian Wood” I don’t think of its literal meaning but what it means to me and my family…much thanks to Dad. Hope you enjoy this recording—me on vocals, my friend Tom Bishel on guitar—and some assorted family photos.
To learn more about Tom and his music, check out his Facebook page.
HAPPY RETIREMENT, DAD! Lots of love… August
If you’d like to add your retirement wishes, I’m sure my dad would love to hear them!
Girl Boner 
Kristy K. James...Living, Loving, Laughing
/ February 29, 2012Congratulations, August’s Dad! Hope you have a long, healthy and happy retirement. 🙂
Kourtney Heintz
/ February 29, 2012What an adorable story! 🙂 Happy Happy retirement to your dad!
Nigel Blackwell
/ February 29, 2012Enjoy your retirement, after 40 years of being “on time” I’m sure you deserve it!
Cheers!
August McLaughlin
/ March 1, 2012Great memory, Nigel! I definitely got that promptness gene from him. 😉
Pat O'Dea Rosen
/ February 29, 2012Congrats, August’s Dad, on retirement from UPS. You’ll never retire from fathering, which is good for August and the rest of the family.
August McLaughlin
/ March 1, 2012Beautifully said, Pat. Thank you!
Louise Behiel
/ February 29, 2012enjoy your retirement – 40 years is quite an accomplishment in this day and age. August, thanks for sharing his story.
Angela Orlowski-Peart
/ February 29, 2012Happy and a veeeeery long retirement, August’s dad!
Love and appreciation for music is one of the most precious gifts that a parent can give to his/her child. You are the lucky one, August 🙂
August McLaughlin
/ March 1, 2012I so am. Thanks, Angela!
Julie
/ February 29, 2012Enjoy your retirement, August’s dad! All the best!
Emma Burcart
/ February 29, 2012What a great story! I remember being a kid & thinking all the Bob Dylan songs my dad sang were silly songs he made up himself!
August McLaughlin
/ March 1, 2012Ha… I love it, Emma. Some of Dylan’s songs sound pretty made up on the spot—in good ways, of course. 🙂 I bet your dad digs that memory, too!
Tameri Etherton
/ February 29, 2012Congratulations August’s Dad!! I bet he’s super cool like you, August.
Hey ~ the video won’t play for me. It says, ‘this video is private’.
patriciasands
/ February 29, 2012Very sweet! I couldn’t open the video … got a message saying “This video is private.” Did anyone else have a problem?
Happy retirement August’s dad! You are about to begin another adventure!
August McLaughlin
/ March 1, 2012Fixed! Sorry, gang. I didn’t realize I had the video set to “private.” Should work now. 🙂 Thanks for the well wishes!
BoJo Photo
/ February 29, 2012You had a creative imagination at a young age! 🙂
Congratulations to your dad!
fivereflections
/ February 29, 2012happy retirement to your dad – now he can do those things he dreamed of doing!
David in Maine USA
fiercebuddhist
/ February 29, 2012Beautiful sentiments. I hope my daughters have such fond memories of me.
Natalie Hartford
/ March 1, 2012Sooooo beautiful! Your post brought tears to my eyes…sniff…wonderful sentiments and love…HUGS to you and YOUR Dad!!!
August McLaughlin
/ March 1, 2012Aw… Thanks, Natalie!
David N. Walker
/ March 1, 2012Having raised a daughter, I probably know better than you do how much your father appreciates these two posts and your feelings toward him in general. You each fortunate to have the other.
Tiffany A White
/ March 1, 2012My mom just signed her retirement paperwork this week after teaching 44 years. I just don’t know what she’s going to do, but she’s earned it.
Happy retirement, August’s dad! 🙂
August McLaughlin
/ March 1, 2012Forty-four years of teaching?! Such an accomplishment. Congrats to your mom, too!
Audrey Kalman
/ March 1, 2012Oh, dear, another post of yours that made me cry, in a most bittersweet way. I don’t even usually read my horoscope but today I did and it said, “Take stock of your past and indulge in memories that will bring your emotions to the surface.” Your song and pictures of your family did just that. Thank you.
Patricia
/ March 1, 2012That was a fabulous tribute! Your dad must be very proud!
Happy retirement August’s dad!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
alicamckennajohnson
/ March 1, 2012Lovely- I hope he has a wonderful retirement.
Ingrid Schaffenburg
/ March 3, 2012Congratulations August’s Dad! Best wishes on this new phase of life 🙂
And what a beautiful rendition of Norwegian Wood. Lovely voice August! I too come from a family of Vikings (Grandpa was born in Norway) 😉
EllieAnn
/ March 3, 2012Happy Retirement to a valiant Minnesota Viking! 🙂 Hope you enjoy your own time.
Stacy S. Jensen (@StacySJensen)
/ March 3, 2012Happy retirement August’s Dad. Enjoy it! (Lovely song August)
Marla Martenson
/ March 3, 2012Great tribute! Thanks for sharing.
Marla Martenson
/ March 3, 2012Great voice too…
Barb
/ March 3, 2012It’s amazing how a piece of music brings back memories. Lovely piece.. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’ll be back to learn more.
Sheila Seabrook
/ March 4, 2012Happy retirement, August’s Dad! You have a wonderful daughter and now you have more time to spend with her! 🙂
Marty Feldkamp
/ March 5, 2012August,
I have worked with your Dad for six years at UPS. It has been my honor. He does treat everyone with respect and I believe was so successful due to being genuine and honest with everyone. He is one of the few people that I have come across that you can count on to do the right thing every time. He is an all time Great, if not at football, at a much more important game, and that is life. He shared with me your story about your Grandma’s earrings and I can not put on a pair of red earrings with out thinking of you. He is so proud of his family, his wife and your mother, Caroline. I wish that I could meet each of you personally, however, I feel that I have.
I thank you for sharing him with UPS for all of these years and hope each of your enjoy the time that you now have to share.
Thank you,
Marty Feldkamp
UPS, Central Ohio District
August McLaughlin
/ March 9, 2012Marty, I can’t thank you enough for your lovely note. Thanks also for being a part of his supportive work community. Our whole family benefited, and still does, from his years with UPS. Bless you!
mj monaghan
/ March 5, 2012Great photos and Happy Retirement to Dad!
Jenny Hansen
/ March 8, 2012August – I loved that video!! (Dang, you’re talented.) And you have your Dad’s eyes…that must make you happy every time you look in the mirror. It’s wonderful to see how much you love him.
This is a great tribute – I agree with David. Your dad has probably watched that video 500 times already. 🙂
August McLaughlin
/ March 9, 2012Thanks so much, Jenny!
Subhan Zein
/ March 16, 2012I would like to say the same thing to my Dad! 🙂
Subhan Zein