A Tribute to My Dad

I was cleaning out the cabin recently and I ran across Dad’s old tool chest. As with most of his things they were second hand and heavily used. I began to throw out most of the contents knowing that most people would pass them by in a garage sale, but then I came across an old screwdriver. My first response was to throw it away with the rest of the contents, and then it hit me.

I saw dad on many occasions pick up that old screwdriver as he’d proceed to turn the screw into it’s desired place on the wall or in a board. I thought again what in the world would I do with an old screwdriver. I have about 20 screwdrivers all much better than the worn wooden handle and rusty meyal one I was holding in my hand. Somehow I just couldn’t give it up because of these images and memories of my dad and seeing it in his hands. With all the new power driven screwdrivers I know nothing will ever compare to the one dad held in his tight grasp.

Well, I decided to keep the old screwdriver as a symbol and memory of my dad and his hard work and sacrifice for us kids. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t have done for us kids (I think he learned it from Mom) The screwdriver now sits in a special place on my workbench and has become a continual reminder of my dad and the days we spent together as well one of my most valued tools.

– Gene Bedley