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Fond Memories

This site is dedicated as a tribute to my father's memory. Although during his lifetime he was called Stan, "Stash", and "Gay", he will mostly be referred to as Dad throughout the site. My father, who was only 64 years old when he passed away in 1987, is still missed.  It's the little things that are missed the most - his smile, the sound of his voice, his confident swagger entering a room, and even his raised eyebrow when he wanted us to know that he disapproved of something we said or did.  As a young child growing up in the1950s, the images I have of his right leg crossed over the bathroom sink while combing his hair to get it "just right" or seeing that pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes rolled up under his T-shirt sleeve and thinking "what a cool Dad I have" are still fondly recalled.  Besides these images, and the many "lectures" he gave "to do as I say and not as I do" still resonate in my ears as if they were just given yesterday.

The Ritual --"Car - Spit and Polish - For Sale Sign - Car"

There are many other memories I have of Dad, but the one that always seems to bring a broad smile every time I recall it occurred when I became a teenage driver and Dad was the owner of a used car business.

Almost immediately after I got my driver's license, a bi-weekly ritual began. In the span of about 48 months Dad "gave" me a total of 63 different cars or trucks to drive. During that span of time I had every car or truck imaginable--a Studebaker, Ford Crown Top Victoria, Lincoln Convertible with a Continental Kit, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Renault, and on and on. What's so funny about having that many cars? Well, Dad told me every time that he gave me a car that it was mine to keep, but without fail, after all the hours I spent to "spit and polish" a car, Dad would take a good look at the car, and with a little chuckle, convince me that the car "would sure look great on the lot". Yep! You guessed it.  A "For Sale" sign was put on the car immediately after those words were spoken. Dad then would choose another car for me to call my own and the ritual would begin anew. You'd think that I would learn what he was up to after a couple of cars!! Somehow, as a teenager, it really didn't matter to me what Dad was up to because I always had a car to drive.

Values

Throughout his life Dad instilled in his three sons certain values that remain with us today. He stressed the value of hard work, getting an education, serving your country and doing your best in whatever you do. Doing this he said would ensure your success in life and make him a proud father.
Stanley Galik - WW II Photo
STANLEY GALIK - WWII
 

 
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