Your father endured a hard childhood with beatings from different sources. Truly sad, but he still managed to be a father who was looked up to and help his daughter in many ways. Now you can look upon his flag with full respect and honor. 🙏
Thank you for this post. My dad was a Vietnam vet with a Purple Heart that returned to my mom very mentally broken. They had us, 2 kids and my mom endeared much physical abuse. They divorced and a few years later he committed suicide and was buried on my 9th birthday. I am now watching my mom die in hospice and with Alzheimer’s she cannot remember my dad at all. It is all from a war that broke my dad. Broke our family. In losing my mom, I feel sad again for the loss of my dad, that could only show up broken.
I'm sorry to read about your father. I was in college for part of the Vietnam War. Near graduation i received my notice for a physical. I was really scared because my lottery draft number was 8. I was hoping an arm injury while in HS would keep me out when the war ended. Over the course of my lifetime I've developed a deep respect for veterans. Thank you for sharing.
What a beautiful thing to wake up to this morning. Thank you Sasha. My Dad was a veteran as well and part of the greatest generation ever. i didn't get along with my dad for most of my life. He was a strong silent German and I was a wispy kid who always did thing against his grain. It wasn't until my 50's after I left the democratic party and evolved into conservatism that I came to appreciate him.
I'll never forget the look on his face when upon leaving he and my beautiful mother I looked him in the eye and said, "I love you Dad. Thank you for making me the man that I am". Happy Veterans Day.
Went to the 80th anniversery of D-Day in Normandy, my goal was to meet some vets and luckily I did on Omaha Beach June 8th 2024. What an honor to met 4 gentleman on Omaha beach, they were first wave and were treated like rock stars. Lets not forget about the huge role Women played.
As a nurse, it has always been my honor to meet D-Day vets and WWII vets in general, but it's been 11 years since I've cared for a Normandy veteran. I am so in awe of those who put themselves between us and war's desolation. I had a great-uncle John who recovered from shrapnel and gas ("Don't be scared for me, Mother,") only to die of the Spanish flu on 10/10/18. Another uncle John lost his toes to frostbite fighting the Chinese at Chosin Reservoir. I named my first son for them.
A touching and heartwarming story Sasha. I’m so glad he was there for you and your daughter, and what a musician. So happy his musician friends were there for him at the end … and what playing … amazing. Blessed memories. ❤️
Sasha - Thanks for sharing and grateful for your dad’s service. My dad was a veteran too. I miss him a lot. In fact I miss both of my parents. This is something I recite to myself quite frequently.
“While I have not heard your voice in years, my heart has conversations with you often.”
this made me cry - thank you for telling us all such a personal story. He had such kind friends and a wonderful daughter and granddaughter. For those of us who didn't have the best relationship with our dads, yours was a good reminder that everyone has had different life journeys that profoundly affect their behaviors so perhaps don't judge too harshly. I am a slow learner in that regard but your story touched me deeply as my father was also a jazz musician. Thank you so much and God Bless our veterans.
I was reading today’s missive with great interest as I always relish reading you … but my interest was piqued a bit more than usual as I too am remembering my dad on this Veteran’s Day. He was a WW2 and Korean War vet.
But I must tell you Sasha I got some serious chills when I realized who your dad was. I knew him ( not well at all), but I actually did a couple of gigs with him in the early 1980’s. I had met him through a keyboardist whose name most likely you would recall, as my impression was they had a fairly vibrant gigging history together.
That I already felt a strong connection to you by way of your Substack and the accounting of your amazing and brave ongoing cultural and political journey is one thing. But it blows my mind and warms my heart to know I have a slightly more personal connection to you that I likely would not have known if you had not written this lovely tribute to your dad.
By the way, I remember him having that quirky yet easy going hipster quality so many of the cats had who come of age musically in the 50’s and 60’s in that genre.
Wow.. it’s going to take me a while to process this wonderful realization. I can’t help but think your dad would be ‘bursting at the seams’ proud of you… regardless of politics…God bless you Sasha. And that settles it, tips are not enough, I’m subscribing.
In an unusual but nonetheless true way, YOU are a true veteran yourself… You had your eyes opened and fought, despite the price you had to pay, to find your way to real freedom and helped pave the way for others…
Cowardice, or at least silent indifference, is insidiously contagious, but courage is also contagious but most don’t have the guts to stand up and stand out…
Thanks Sasha for sharing the story of you and your father. And, I too offer a heartfelt "Thank You" to our veterans some of whom gave all and all of whom eternally remind us—freedom is not free. 🇺🇸
Double, triple, quadruple thumbs up, Sasha. Thx
Your father endured a hard childhood with beatings from different sources. Truly sad, but he still managed to be a father who was looked up to and help his daughter in many ways. Now you can look upon his flag with full respect and honor. 🙏
Thank you for this post. My dad was a Vietnam vet with a Purple Heart that returned to my mom very mentally broken. They had us, 2 kids and my mom endeared much physical abuse. They divorced and a few years later he committed suicide and was buried on my 9th birthday. I am now watching my mom die in hospice and with Alzheimer’s she cannot remember my dad at all. It is all from a war that broke my dad. Broke our family. In losing my mom, I feel sad again for the loss of my dad, that could only show up broken.
I'm sorry for your loss. The effects of war ripple out for a long time. In my life, too.
I think rejection of permanent war is one reason that Trump won. The neo-cons are unable to see this. [Edited for typo]
Praying for you and your mom. Service to America takes many forms and children and spouses of veterans bear a great part of the burden.
I'm sorry to read about your father. I was in college for part of the Vietnam War. Near graduation i received my notice for a physical. I was really scared because my lottery draft number was 8. I was hoping an arm injury while in HS would keep me out when the war ended. Over the course of my lifetime I've developed a deep respect for veterans. Thank you for sharing.
My deepest sympathy for what that awful war cost you and your family.
And God bless all our veterans.
What a beautiful thing to wake up to this morning. Thank you Sasha. My Dad was a veteran as well and part of the greatest generation ever. i didn't get along with my dad for most of my life. He was a strong silent German and I was a wispy kid who always did thing against his grain. It wasn't until my 50's after I left the democratic party and evolved into conservatism that I came to appreciate him.
I'll never forget the look on his face when upon leaving he and my beautiful mother I looked him in the eye and said, "I love you Dad. Thank you for making me the man that I am". Happy Veterans Day.
Went to the 80th anniversery of D-Day in Normandy, my goal was to meet some vets and luckily I did on Omaha Beach June 8th 2024. What an honor to met 4 gentleman on Omaha beach, they were first wave and were treated like rock stars. Lets not forget about the huge role Women played.
As a nurse, it has always been my honor to meet D-Day vets and WWII vets in general, but it's been 11 years since I've cared for a Normandy veteran. I am so in awe of those who put themselves between us and war's desolation. I had a great-uncle John who recovered from shrapnel and gas ("Don't be scared for me, Mother,") only to die of the Spanish flu on 10/10/18. Another uncle John lost his toes to frostbite fighting the Chinese at Chosin Reservoir. I named my first son for them.
We owe so much to all our military men and women both current and deceased. I fly the American flag daily to thank them all.
I was raised in a military family, I was blessed. 🇺🇸
Same
I pray your dad has found peace.
A touching and heartwarming story Sasha. I’m so glad he was there for you and your daughter, and what a musician. So happy his musician friends were there for him at the end … and what playing … amazing. Blessed memories. ❤️
Thank you, Sasha. I know that your father still loves you unconditionally and is still proud of the mature and wise woman you have become.
God bless you and god bless the brave veterans who sacrificed to keep our country free.
It is because of them that we remain the shiny city on the hill.
Sasha - Thanks for sharing and grateful for your dad’s service. My dad was a veteran too. I miss him a lot. In fact I miss both of my parents. This is something I recite to myself quite frequently.
“While I have not heard your voice in years, my heart has conversations with you often.”
Be well. ❤️
Jim, what a lovely verse!
this made me cry - thank you for telling us all such a personal story. He had such kind friends and a wonderful daughter and granddaughter. For those of us who didn't have the best relationship with our dads, yours was a good reminder that everyone has had different life journeys that profoundly affect their behaviors so perhaps don't judge too harshly. I am a slow learner in that regard but your story touched me deeply as my father was also a jazz musician. Thank you so much and God Bless our veterans.
We love you Sasha. Sorry about your pops. Love the remembrances.
Sasha
I was reading today’s missive with great interest as I always relish reading you … but my interest was piqued a bit more than usual as I too am remembering my dad on this Veteran’s Day. He was a WW2 and Korean War vet.
But I must tell you Sasha I got some serious chills when I realized who your dad was. I knew him ( not well at all), but I actually did a couple of gigs with him in the early 1980’s. I had met him through a keyboardist whose name most likely you would recall, as my impression was they had a fairly vibrant gigging history together.
That I already felt a strong connection to you by way of your Substack and the accounting of your amazing and brave ongoing cultural and political journey is one thing. But it blows my mind and warms my heart to know I have a slightly more personal connection to you that I likely would not have known if you had not written this lovely tribute to your dad.
By the way, I remember him having that quirky yet easy going hipster quality so many of the cats had who come of age musically in the 50’s and 60’s in that genre.
Wow.. it’s going to take me a while to process this wonderful realization. I can’t help but think your dad would be ‘bursting at the seams’ proud of you… regardless of politics…God bless you Sasha. And that settles it, tips are not enough, I’m subscribing.
In an unusual but nonetheless true way, YOU are a true veteran yourself… You had your eyes opened and fought, despite the price you had to pay, to find your way to real freedom and helped pave the way for others…
Cowardice, or at least silent indifference, is insidiously contagious, but courage is also contagious but most don’t have the guts to stand up and stand out…
Bless you Sasha!!!
Thanks Sasha for sharing the story of you and your father. And, I too offer a heartfelt "Thank You" to our veterans some of whom gave all and all of whom eternally remind us—freedom is not free. 🇺🇸
What a poignant, bittersweet, beautiful tribute to your father and to all veterans ...