Letters to the editor / News Virginian
Published: June 17, 2007

My Dad's legacy

My philosophy of life isn't very spectacular. It really isn't complex or profound. It is just a simple motto: "no-regrets."
No matter what you do or say, do your best and move on without dwelling on it. If you fall short or fail, so what. Take your time, try to do it right, and even if you don't, you can feel that you've given it your best shot.

Of course, we all will question our actions, that's normal, but don't dwell on the doubt, be confident that you have done your best then move on. Don't have any regrets. Anybody can be a "Monday-morning quarterback."

Second-guessing ourselves can only create doubt and anxiety. If I have learned anything, it is how we deal with our mistakes that define us as individuals, friends and parents.
Everything works out; maybe not the way you want it to at the time, but I would bet that when you review some of the stuff that you have done or said over the years, you might be glad that it didn't work out the way you originally planned 99 percent of the time.

Looking back, I believe I developed this mentality subconsciously from my Dad.

I always looked up to my Dad. However, I thought that some of the things he did or the ways he acted were corny and old fashioned. At times I acted embarrassed.

He was very smart and witty, and some would say argumentative. He purposefully tried to get a reaction from people and cause them to think. He had a greater quality that I never really paid attention to until after he passed away.

He took the greatest pleasures from the simplest things. It could be the setting sun, a goose flying overhead, his backyard pond, his grandchildren, or making my mom's dinner; so many everyday things that we all take for granted.

He was so satisfied with each moment that he was living. Sadly, I only realized the truth of his motto "have no regrets about who you are or what you've done - deal with it and move on," upon his death. Life is too short to dwell on things.

We have taken different tools from my Dad and have applied them throughout our lives, hoping to be as good a father as he was. He's only been gone about a month now, and I miss him terribly. But I have the satisfaction of knowing he died aware that he was a great dad and a great man.

He did have some regrets, but all in all he lived life to the fullest, kept things simple and observed the ordinary things in life that can be the greatest reward of all. I love you Dad!

Colin Harris

My Dad was a lifesaver

My Dad was the kindest and most gentle person I ever met. He had a very sharp mind and could turn his hand to any task. We obeyed him because we loved him. He could "think on his feet."

We were walking in the pine woods near a lake one Saturday afternoon, enjoying nature. There were five of us youngsters and Dad had a baby in his arms.

Of a sudden, a twister touched down, laying pine trees over like matchsticks.

Dad shouted for us to run for the tree trunks while he stood still and directed us. His glasses were knocked off his face, but the baby he held wasn't injured; nor were any of us.

Later we could see the twister had touched down in several places about a half-mile wide over a range of eight miles, leaving complete devastation where it touched - and we walked away.

I thanked God for blessing my father with the courage to stand fast, giving good advice under pressure, and allowing all of us to come away undamaged.

Gilbert Preston Frost
Lake Shaftsbury, Vermont
Fred M. Frost
Fishersville