Wednesday 30 July 2008

My Earthly Father could do Anything!

I have seen a couple of posts recently talking about memories (see Tam, Monday, July 28th, Leg Warmers ...) and relationships with fathers (see Life Adapted - Thursday, July 24th, The Tinkerer). Well I have a puzzle for you - see if you can figure out the solution.

When I was quite young I watched my dad build a go-cart for us kids. My dad was an exceptional welder, during world war II he was exempt from military service as he was an under-water welder working on bridges. Anyways, as he was welding the go-cart - I watched. Now I knew enough not to watch him strike an arc or watch directly at the weld as it could damage your eyes - the flash/light from the welder was very intense/bright so I always turned my head away as he welded - so I thought.

That night, about 1AM I woke up with a painful scratching sensation in my eyes - extremely painful. I came down stairs and woke my dad - he could fix anything - remember? I had "sun-burned" my eyes by catching flashes from the welder. In less than 15 minutes the pain was gone and I was sound asleep! No pain in the morning!

My question for you is; What did my father do to stop the pain?? If no one guesses today I will post the answer in the comments Thursday morning. Or if I get 30 comments I will give the answer after the 30th comment!

38 comments:

CrossView said...

Must have been a hug and words of affirmation that it would be ok... =D

hoozat lady said...

he kissed it and made it better-
that works on all boo-boos!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - he knew right away what was wrong and actually did something physically that took the pain away. Ironically, I never recall getting a hug from my father, but I never doubted his love for me! He would have given his life for me.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hoozat Lady - hey! long time no hear! Stay tuned - you will be pleased with the actual answer! He gave me a teaspoon of Aspartame - ha! Are you coming to papa's house to play this weekend??

hoozat lady said...

I may be...
;)

If he actually gave you something, I'd guess a shot of whiskey. It relaxes the muscles and would help you sleep, too. It worked on my kids when they were teething!
(of course, you told me you've never been a drinker, but I guess a shot when you were a kid doesn't count)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hoozat - no whiskey - my uncle did that to me once to cure a cold - I was probably 6 or 7! That was the first & last shot of whiskey - so far! lol

Carol said...

I guess he put a cold wet cloth across your eyes. I sunburned my eyes with a heating lamp once, and it was very painful. Eye drops and the cold wet cloth is all I remember for easing the pain.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hi Carol! nope - no eye drops or wet cloth - if I see you today I will tell you - but you can't tell the world! lol

Unknown said...

he prayed over your eyes?

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hi Tam - he probably did - but he knew a special 'technique' that would fix it. I thought he was being funny, but it worked!

Anonymous said...

He cut a potato and laid the slices over your eyes and it drew the heat out.

Wierd sounding I know...but I've done it and IT WORKS!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Rachel - thanks for stopping by! YOUR THE WINNER! I was totally surprised that it worked - and worked so quickly! I went right to sleep and woke up with the potato slices on my eyes yet! Du you have a blog??

CrossView said...

Wow! That's a new one to me....
Sounds like one of those beauty things... =P

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - I was surprised myself - obviously as a young person I thought my dad was quite smart - or a magician! I miss my dad MS ! :o(

Anonymous said...

Did he rub butter on your eyes? That is what my mom always did for burns.

Anonymous said...

D'oh someone already answered, but I was close since my answer was food oriented as well.

Indian Lake Papa said...

John - you were very close - I am not a potato expert but whatever it was, it worked fast and well! Welcome to my blog! do you have a blog?

CrossView said...

Good Dads are a special breed! Mine's been gone less than a year and I still try to pick up the phone to call him. But I'm so thankful to have had him for the
45 years I did!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - hummm, 45 + 1 - got it! Dad was quite special - I hope I have been a good dad. A good papa as well. You are my daughter you know that right?

Anonymous said...

how about we take Johns idea about the butter and then combine your dad's potato and then by the middle of the night you would have a tasty treat! MMM..I love fried potatos.....

Nice post Pops!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hey A! We could add a little catsup with those fried taters! My dad could cook as well - he LOVED to take the meat off a hog's head that we had just butchered, cook it up, grind it and make a yummie head cheese spread! great on sandwiches or crackers!

Anonymous said...

I think I had that as an in-flight meal once! Somewhere between Moscow and Surgut.

Indian Lake Papa said...

A - You should have taken your brothers bottle of catsup with you!

Anonymous said...

I was enjoying this until I got to the hogs head part. What awful weird stuff. Yukky ducky!

That explains a lot about you, papa!!!! lol

Janis

Indian Lake Papa said...

Janis - my son-in-law started that conversation! He mentioned the fried potato thing! lol Life is good!

Anonymous said...

Don't blame your SIL. I'd protest if I were him. You are the one who mentioned the hog!!

Janis

Heather said...

I would have NEVER guessed that! What a great thing to know! Your dad was amazing! OH...so are YOU:)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hey Janis - papa never takes the blame!

Heather - your way to kind to me! I am really a stinker, just mama hasn't figured it out yet! I really miss my dad - its been 28 year! oh my - thats a long time.

Anonymous said...

I see that your earthly father cared for your well being as much as your heavenly father does for you soul.

Maybe when you join your father in heaven he can teach you some more welding tricks.

I'll have to try that potato cure the next time I get burned.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Ed - My dad was "gifted" - he amazed me with his knowledge of mechanical/electrical things. He could weld, run a metal lathe, multiple phase electrical work - all of it - and yet he loved to fish with his boys! I think thats why I made such an easy transition to a heavenly father - because I already had an earthly father who loved me!

Life Adapted said...

Papa - I'm confused. Was a potato the cure? What exactly did your dad do? There are 30 comments :)

Thanks for mentioning my post. You're a sweety. Be blessed.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hi LA! See comment #11 - Rachel figured it out! My dad took a raw potato and cut it in two and placed each half on one of my eyes. The potato drew out the burn somehow - i was fine in minutes!

Robin said...

Neat...I was too late to play though.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Maybe next time Robin - how did you do last night? how is my grand baby to be doing?

CrossView said...

Oops! Bad math. I had him 44 years.
'Cause I'm 45 now- and he died 2 months before my birthday....

We definitely consider you family!
You guys are loved! =D

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - I though you were much younger! I just knew it! I love your family as well.

CrossView said...

"Much younger"- Ooh! You're my BEST friend now! LOL!

Love and hugs to you and your bride!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - your welcome - best friend - and you are young enough to be my daughter! probably an older daughter, but a daughter! lol