Honoring My Father: Coming to Terms

By David Satterlee

(Note: The story, "Going to see Jesse" previously appeared in "Life Will Get You in the End," by the same author. The story, "Honoring My Father" is scheduled to appear in a future compilation of short stories, also by the same author.)
Do you have someone you cared deeply about that is no longer with you? Do you wish that you could go back and do a better job of letting them know how much they meant to you? Yes, we all do. In this heartfelt account, David Satterlee tells personal stories of a remarkable father, his own failure in family and faith... and the rediscovery of love worth living for.

"Honoring My Father" is a journey of growth across generations. David remembers his Father's life with affection, and describes his own depression, spiritual crisis and divorce that led to being shunned by his family. Remarried, David and his wife attend his Dad's memorial service and discover opportunities to honor his Father's life, character, and a final wish.

This books also includes "Going to See Jessie," a related family story of elder-care, love, loyalty, and enduring patience. "Providing home care develops a predictable and cadenced routine... Going to see Jessie was an integral part of our Sisyphean life together. It was more than a routine; it was an obligatory rite, a necessary commemoration, like giving thanks before a meal or putting flowers on a grave."

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Satterlee
• Release date: Jul 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301255719

David Satterlee

David Satterlee has eclectic interests that drive the broad range of his work. His very human stories often explore developing relationships. His essays advocate for personal, family, community and societal growth. “[His writing is] humorous, bold, and adventurous all at once ... channeled through a facility for language and the music of words.” David writes to tease, teach, and entertain. He does not spoon-feed every detail but, like other good literature, leaves morsels on the table to be picked up, examined, chewed and savored.After retiring from a quarter-century of industrial control, computer and communications work in manufacturing and refining, David spent a decade as a consulting herbalist, and went on to manage media production for a Utah publisher. In all this time, He pursued a personal quest to understand why we think, believe, and act the way we do. He developed from a lay minister, through interests in meditation, natural healing, psychology, and philosophy. Now mobility and neurologically disabled, he reads, writes and hopes to make his part of the world a better place.David and Dianna live in a small, rural Iowa town deep in the middle of the middle of elsewhere. Despite being married, they are exceptionally-good friends. They recreate with cats, mostly, in a remodeled 1880s Workman's Victorian home right on Main Street. Dianna is a retired elementary school teacher with additional experience in library science, gifted/talented programs and music. She still gives music lessons and indulges a passion for writing and playing music "in the cracks." In their spare time, they entertain neighbors with their liberal and eccentric antics.

Book preview

Honoring My Father

Coming to Terms

David Satterlee

Copyright 2013 David Satterlee.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Published by Wordsmith Services at Smashwords

July, 2013

ISBN: 978-1301255719

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Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Proverbs 23:22

About the cover photo:

You will read that Dad liked to have his picture taken, exiting an outhouse and pretending to be zipping himself up. You would have to say that it was quirky but harmless. Several years ago, I had this picture taken of me doing the same. It’s a quirky way to honor your father, but harmless. DavidS

Dedicated to my Father, of course.

William H. Satterlee

January 26, 1923 – January 13, 2013

Do you have someone you cared deeply about that is no longer with you? Do you wish that you could go back and do a better job of letting them know how much they meant to you? Yes, we all do.

This would be a good moment to pause and reflect on existing relationships, good and difficult, and what you want to do, sooner, rather than later, to build them up with loving kindness

Table of Contents

Honoring My Father

It May Get Complicated, but It’s All About Love

Mom and Dad Get Old

A Shunning in the Family

Back When I Got Crazy…

…Crazy at Church, and at Home…

…and then It All Came Apart

Back When Dad Was Younger…

…A Kind of Quirky Guy

He Loved His Brothers

He Loved his Sisters

Loyalty to a Life-long Friend

Back to Dad’s Last Days & His Private Spirituality

My Last Visit with Dad — And His Death

The Vigor of Dad’s Youth

How I Came to Remarry…

…and How That Got Me Shunned

Going to My Dad’s Memorial Service

…A Surprise Visit from Brother Elder…

…Brother Elder Gives Me Dad…

…and We Arrive at Dad’s Service

Dad’s Service Happens…

…and We Talk About Dad on the Way Home

Honoring My Father’s Final Request: Scattering His Ashes

Honoring the Sweetness of My Father’s Life

Going to see Jesse

More Books From David Satterlee

Gratitude to the Reader – And a Request

Honoring My Father

It May Get Complicated, but It’s All About Love

I want to say, right here at the start, that life is complicated. Honoring my father requires explaining his life and character. He grew up during the Great Depression near a small town in West Central Missouri and remained a quiet and usually-undemonstrative small-town boy all his life. Despite the labors of being a hard worker, devoted family man, and frequent volunteer, he retained the capacity for indulging in playfulness and personal gratification; there was an elemental sweetness about much of his approach to life.

But, honoring my Father also requires explaining my relationship with him. And that seems to require explaining my relationships with a great many other people. I don’t feel