March 27th is a very special day to me because in 1932 that was the day that my dad, Ivan Petcher was born.
He was the sort of man that you hope to be like when you grow up and then wish you had been like when you are old.
He is gone now but this is one of my stories about him…
Have Bag, Will Travel 
Your dad was 1 day 1 year older than my brother, who died 2011, from prostate cancer. He was diagnosed with it at age 70 ; as was I, it killed him 7 years later. Your bro looks very like my bro did; I ,have a photo somewhere in similar stance.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 70 too; I took the risk of a new type operation (Brachytherapy) and the doc guaranteed me another 6 to 8 years, the guarantee ran out 4 years ago. I want my money back!.
I must be old enough to be your dad.
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Dad died in October 2003, he had suffered a long time with Parkinson’s Disease, I think the drugs did for him in the end!
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My first wifes great Aunt who brought her up after her mother ran off with a Tank in 1943/44 she had Parkinsons dies in her 90’s a good soul. a dreadful malady that I’ve dreaded more than cancer.
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Spoilt the last few years of Dad’s life for sure.
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Im not sure hope this takes you to the pic of my bro that I mentioned, he was 2 days shy of 18 when this was taken aboard the MV Cheshire” the migrant ship that brought us to Australia
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNQaGaRpCye7otMH7u8ph0gCzYZFRaKgeA4HTx0
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Didn’t work for me Brian!
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Thats a pity there’s a definite resemblance I thought I had the picture in a post I did , Can’t find it 😦 If I had an email address I could send it to you, I use same name @hotmail.com
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apetcher@aol.com
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sorry didnt work
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Lovely tribute, Andrew
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Thanks Sue.
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wonderful story and tribute, andrew –
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Thanks, I appreciate that!
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Your father was a good-looking young man with a kind face full of confidence. My Dad was born on March 31, 1924. I too remember him with fondness and try to be like him.
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Thanks Darlene. Today is always a mixed day. Happy that he was my dad and sad that he has gone. I guess you feel the same way on March 31.
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A neat story, Andrew. Young love, for sure, and your dad was a handsome man. I was lucky that my father lived into his late 80s and I had the opportunity to learn about his youth. He was 39 before he met my mother, however. –Curt
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I know a lot about my Dad because he left a treasure trove of photographs and note books. I think he had a wonderful childhood, grew up on a farm and had lots of adventures. If he could write a blog then it would be full of interesting memories. Sadly he died young after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease which spoilt the last few years of his life.
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Sorry to hear about you dad dying young, Andrew. My mother passed on at 50. Fortunately, I inherited all of my dad’s photos and made him go through each one with me. 🙂 I wish my mother would have lived longer so I could have learned more about her childhood. –Curt
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One thing for sure Curt, my children will have a lot of material to sort through!
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Laughing. You can just refer them to your blogs, Andrew! –Curt
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What a lovely tribute to your father. Both he and your mom sound like wonderful people.
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Thanks, I appreciate that!
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Couldn’t leave a Like at the linked post, but I did get the sense of optimism coming out of the war and heading for a better life . . . As opposed to living a great life and seeing the world work toward making it shittier. But, I digress; nice posts.
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Like most of us he lived a small life but he left a big impression on me. Thanks!
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