My old man’s bench and a true story

[RiverDave]

So one of my dad’s first jobs was to sit out in a field and shoot crows out of a tree on a neighbor’s farm. He grew up in Minnesota on a farm (which I can tell a few stories about later).. Anyhow his hatred for crows continued his whole life.. to the point I remember him shooting crows off his balcony in Carlsbad when I was young..

Anyhow when he passed away we got him a memorial bench in the park off Palomar Airport road.

Anyhow when the bench was finished the whole friends and family come out and my mom asks me to say something to everyone. So here I am standing about 20-25’ in front of this big crowd and in the middle of said speech a crow comes flying straight down at Mach Jesus and lawn darts right in front of me in between me and the people.. . Then proceeds to die a pretty quick death.

I’ve never seen anything like that before or after.. but it certainly makes ya wonder about the afterlife a little bit because if that wasn’t a sign I dunno what is.. whatever the sign was pointing too no idea.. lol.

Anyhow took the kids by the bench today to see it because they have only been there once. Absolutely beautiful day and scenery including turtles in the water etc.

In true California fashion though it ended with some drunk dude on a bench on the other side of the park screaming at… I believe himself? lol

 

[rivrrts429]

Hard to believe it’s already been that long since his passing but a great way to honor your father.

 

[Deckin Around]

Your dad in spirit was trying to hang out watching your speech and that damn crow flew by and pissed him off.

 

[BabyRay]

That’s a cool story, and I’m certain the crow’s death was not a coincidence. I say that because I saw something similar.

About 15 years ago, our housekeeper’s boyfriend, John, had brain cancer. We’d become pretty good friends, so he asked us for one last pontoon ride on American lake. We cruised slowly, circling the lake and looking at homes and landscaping, and just enjoying a calm and quiet day, eventually ending up at the south end of the lake. My wife was driving, and sped up to head north to our house (about 2 miles away). A couple hundred yards after she took off, about 20 eagles started following us, staying with us all the way to our house. I’d never seen that many eagles at one time, nor had even one ever followed us. It definitely felt like something spiritual had happened. John died 3 or 4 days later.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Your Dad’s plaque and memorial bench is awesome. Carlsbad was one of the best places we ever lived. Mid 80s, on Cedarwood Dr in the Hosp Grove. Many very fond memories. Kids went to Buena Vista Elementary. Good school, town and people.

 

[SoCalDave]

Cool story RD.
As a teen I got paid for shooting crows in by bus drivers corn field when dove hunting. He would pay us $1 a crow.
I still hate those fukers and have taken a few pellet gun shots at them in my back yard. They're smart fukers though and haven't been back since I wounded one of them a while back.

 

[GETBOATS]

Know right where that is, awesome tribute!

 

[Gelcoater]

I don’t believe in strong coincidence like this.
My old ass IPhone 7 won’t show me any of the pics Dave posts here.
But the story?

I have one a couple 3 weeks old, I’ll share in another thread once I get a few things done over the next couple weeks.
I appreciate the story, Dave.
It reenforces something in my mind I can’t quite put to words just yet.

 

[rivermobster]

I'm just trying to picture you standing there, and Splat, right in front of you...

And if you were actually speechless, or if there was something you Really wanted to say!

 

[Willie B]

… Neighbor girl had a boyfriend who passed away maybe eight or nine years ago… Couple of days later a Bluejay started hanging out between my house and Neighbor girls house… Subsequently… Every time someone nearby passes away a Bluejay starts hanging around again… So I guess there may be a point of reality to all this sort of metaphysical kind of stuff

 

[NicPaus]

That's a nice Bench and great location.

My Dad grew up on a farm in Iowa. They would pay them per crow. But they would turn in the feet. He learned if you let them sit a while before turning them in. The stench would be so bad the county worker would just ask how many and not open the bag and look.

If you have ever shot a crow the rest of the flock sure goes bat shit crazy. They will even try and carry away the downed 1. Crazy how smart they are. They know when you have your gun or not.

I shot 1 a few years back at my Dad's. It's mate would follow my Dad on his morning walks and torment him for years to follow. When my Dad would get back to the house and grab a rifle it would disappear.

 

[Deckin Around]

That's a nice Bench and great location.

My Dad grew up on a farm in Iowa. They would pay them per crow. But they would turn in the feet. He learned if you let them sit a while before turning them in. The stench would be so bad the county worker would just ask how many and not open the bag and look.

If you have ever shot a crow the rest of the flock sure goes bat shit crazy. They will even try and carry away the downed 1. Crazy how smart they are. They know when you have your gun or not.

I shot 1 a few years back at my Dad's. It's mate would follow my Dad on his morning walks and torment him for years to follow. When my Dad would get back to the house and grab a rifle it would disappear.

They have facial recognition and you are completely right about the whole flock shows up. My lab grabbed one off the fence in our backyard, they underestimated my butterball can jump 6 feet. My wife and I saw her grab the crow and I got to her before the death shake maneuver. She dropped the crow when I pried her mouth open. One of the wings must’ve been a little hurt. it started to fly away about 4 feet off the ground across the yard and damn dog caught up to it and grabbed it out of the air and that was it. I threw the crow away and in minutes we had 100 of them circling our house making a ruckus, and they still fuck with my dog.

 

[575cat]

Where in MN is he from ?

 

[RiverDave]

Where in MN is he from ?

Honestly I’m not sure? He left MN way before I was born. I can ask my mom she’d probably know.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Dave that is a great tribute to your Dad. Seeing the kids there and realizing Stacy was pg with Sierra the last time we saw you is...nuts.
I remember talking about our fathers while sitting behind the Parker House. It is great to have that bench...a touchstone for the kids that link them to their grandfather.
Very cool indeed.

 

[Sherpa]

I remember you mentioning your dad a huge collection of loc tite........ I always thought was kinda funny..

being a perfectionist in making and assembling parts you aquire stuff to be perfect..

--Sherpa

 

[DLC]

I was right there last Friday! Drove by that park …..

Great location!

Carlsbad is a cool town ! I do a lot of work around there

 

[RiverDave]

Dave that is a great tribute to your Dad. Seeing the kids there and realizing Stacy was pg with Sierra the last time we saw you is...nuts.
I remember talking about our fathers while sitting behind the Parker House. It is great to have that bench...a touchstone for the kids that link them to their grandfather.
Very cool indeed.

God has it been that long?

 

[OCMerrill]

Very interesting about the Crow. It definitely signifies your Dads presence but only to those that knew him closely.

That's my take anyway.