Worst week ever - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

swiftdog01 · 07-01-2012, 10:04 PM

Title says it all.

My Dad passed away on Tuesday morning at the all too young age of 66 after a long illness. It has been the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. It has brought on a flood of memories and I've been looking back on a lot of things. What's this have to do with Camaros you may ask? Well, I'll tell you.......

I bought my 2012 IOM 2SS in May. Picked it up on the 5th and brought it over to my folk's house to show my Dad as he was a car guy. He loved the 2004 GTO I had and was hoping that I'd pick up another performance car after I traded that in back in 2007.

He was pleased as punch when I rolled up in my new orange beauty. He made his way outside to check it out and was thrilled for me and was excited to go for a ride. Unfortunately, we didn't go out that day for some reason or other. I promised him we'd go for a cruise soon.

I did come back over the following day. I had to make a trip to the local PD as I had an encounter with some landscaping stones the night before that some neighborhood punks had dragged out into the middle of the street (I posted about that craziness previously). My Dad was a retired Boston Police detective (a 40 year vet) so I figured I'd take him with me to file the accident report. It's always good to have a cop with you whose got your back when talking to other cops

Dad loved how the car drove on the way down so I decided I'd let him drive it back home from the station. He had not been driving much due to his health being bad and him having issues with his legs. I knew that this bothered him as he was always very independent and not being able to drive was like taking away part of his freedom. Anyway, the ride back was not very far so I handed him the keys as we left the station and told him he could drive back.

He had a bit of trouble with the clutch as his legs were a little weak and his manual driving skills were rusty but he got her going on the 2nd try. The ride was a bit jerky and he had some issues with the visibility as he was not used to the car but he had a huge grin on his face when he laid into the accelerator

When we got back to his house he told me how much he liked the car and to be careful as it had a lot of power and I was just learning to drive a manual myself (late bloomer in that regard, as I'm 38 :( ) It was one of the last pieces of advice he gave me.

That ride home ended up being the last time he drove a car. He went into the hospital for the last time a few weeks later and did not make it home again. I'm just glad the last car he drove was my Camaro and that I was along for the ride.

TRABlackCamaroSS · 07-01-2012, 10:12 PM

LIKE UR Story...sorry about your Dad.

ss04flores · 07-01-2012, 10:13 PM

I am sorry for your lost my friend. My prayers go out to you and your family.

swiftdog01 · 07-01-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRABlackCamaroSS

LIKE UR Story...sorry about your Dad.

Thanks for the kind words.

swiftdog01 · 07-01-2012, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss04flores

I am sorry for your lost my friend. My prayers go out to you and your family.

Thanks for your kind words.

Lowtan · 07-01-2012, 10:19 PM

So you better never sell that car. Keep it and maybe even give it to your son when he's ready.

Ohten · 07-01-2012, 10:20 PM

Great story and sorry to hear about you dads passing it sounds like you two were close.

Ladybugsmom · 07-01-2012, 10:21 PM

You just made me cry...
Losing a loved one is so hard. Just always remember that you were able to let him have his last drive in your Camaro. That kind of memory (along with many others) is what will help you get through this.
Big cyber hugs and prayers going out to you and all of your family.

heRS · 07-01-2012, 10:24 PM

It's hard to lose your dad. I'm glad he got to have a bit of fun with you in the Camaro before he was called home.

MikeMoach · 07-01-2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowtan

So you better never sell that car. Keep it and maybe even give it to your son when he's ready.

This...

Sorry for ur loss my thoughts nd prays r wit u nd ur family

swiftdog01 · 07-01-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowtan

So you better never sell that car. Keep it and maybe even give it to your son when he's ready.

Thanks for the kind words. No kids yet but if I am blessed with them someday I will gladly hand down the SS when they're old enough.

swiftdog01 · 07-01-2012, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohten

Great story and sorry to hear about you dads passing it sounds like you two were close.

Thanks. We were close. I got to spend a lot of time with him last year while I was laid off from work. Wasn't happy I was laid off but I am glad I made good use of the time.

SPARTAN sui · 07-01-2012, 10:29 PM

I'm so sorry to hear that. My prayers are with you and your family. Your story was really touching, I couldn't even imagine going through that.

swiftdog01 · 07-01-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladybugsmom

You just made me cry...
Losing a loved one is so hard. Just always remember that you were able to let him have his last drive in your Camaro. That kind of memory (along with many others) is what will help you get through this.
Big cyber hugs and prayers going out to you and all of your family.

Thank you so much. Didn't mean to make you cry. I've been doing enough of that myself :(

07-01-2012, 10:04 PM	#1
swiftdog01 Drives: 2012 IOM 2SS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Somewhere Between Heaven & Hell Posts: 113	Worst week ever Title says it all. My Dad passed away on Tuesday morning at the all too young age of 66 after a long illness. It has been the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. It has brought on a flood of memories and I've been looking back on a lot of things. What's this have to do with Camaros you may ask? Well, I'll tell you....... I bought my 2012 IOM 2SS in May. Picked it up on the 5th and brought it over to my folk's house to show my Dad as he was a car guy. He loved the 2004 GTO I had and was hoping that I'd pick up another performance car after I traded that in back in 2007. He was pleased as punch when I rolled up in my new orange beauty. He made his way outside to check it out and was thrilled for me and was excited to go for a ride. Unfortunately, we didn't go out that day for some reason or other. I promised him we'd go for a cruise soon. I did come back over the following day. I had to make a trip to the local PD as I had an encounter with some landscaping stones the night before that some neighborhood punks had dragged out into the middle of the street (I posted about that craziness previously). My Dad was a retired Boston Police detective (a 40 year vet) so I figured I'd take him with me to file the accident report. It's always good to have a cop with you whose got your back when talking to other cops Dad loved how the car drove on the way down so I decided I'd let him drive it back home from the station. He had not been driving much due to his health being bad and him having issues with his legs. I knew that this bothered him as he was always very independent and not being able to drive was like taking away part of his freedom. Anyway, the ride back was not very far so I handed him the keys as we left the station and told him he could drive back. He had a bit of trouble with the clutch as his legs were a little weak and his manual driving skills were rusty but he got her going on the 2nd try. The ride was a bit jerky and he had some issues with the visibility as he was not used to the car but he had a huge grin on his face when he laid into the accelerator When we got back to his house he told me how much he liked the car and to be careful as it had a lot of power and I was just learning to drive a manual myself (late bloomer in that regard, as I'm 38 :( ) It was one of the last pieces of advice he gave me. That ride home ended up being the last time he drove a car. He went into the hospital for the last time a few weeks later and did not make it home again. I'm just glad the last car he drove was my Camaro and that I was along for the ride. Last edited by swiftdog01; 07-01-2012 at 10:25 PM.

07-01-2012, 10:13 PM	#3
ss04flores 2012 Camaro SS Drives: 2012 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 543	I am sorry for your lost my friend. My prayers go out to you and your family. __________________ _________________________ 2012 IMB CAMARO SS

07-01-2012, 10:20 PM	#7
Ohten Drives: Granite Crystal Challenger SRT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: West Palm Beach,FL by way of Akron,OH Posts: 1,406 View My Garage	Great story and sorry to hear about you dads passing it sounds like you two were close. __________________

07-01-2012, 10:21 PM	#8
Ladybugsmom Older than I look.... Drives: 2010 VR Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 6,481 View My Garage	You just made me cry... Losing a loved one is so hard. Just always remember that you were able to let him have his last drive in your Camaro. That kind of memory (along with many others) is what will help you get through this. Big cyber hugs and prayers going out to you and all of your family. __________________ High Heels and Fast Wheels!!

07-01-2012, 10:24 PM	#9
heRS Raised by Wolves Drives: IBM 2010 2LT RS M6 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 5,980 View My Garage	It's hard to lose your dad. I'm glad he got to have a bit of fun with you in the Camaro before he was called home. __________________ Tori click the sig pic to view my build thread

07-01-2012, 10:12 PM	#2
TRABlackCamaroSS Drives: '10 Blk Camaro SS/'08 Blk Silverado Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: OKLA Posts: 466 View My Garage	LIKE UR Story...sorry about your Dad.

07-01-2012, 10:19 PM	#6
Lowtan Drives: Don't have my Camaro YET Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 145	So you better never sell that car. Keep it and maybe even give it to your son when he's ready.

07-01-2012, 10:29 PM	#13
SPARTAN sui PC Technician Drives: 2016 Hyper Blue 2SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: North Dakota Posts: 2,161	I'm so sorry to hear that. My prayers are with you and your family. Your story was really touching, I couldn't even imagine going through that. __________________