I hate Father's Day, although I think I've been a good Dad.

[Skeeter Barnes]

3. My dad was killed on the job.

He was an electrical maintenance worker for Occidental Chemical. He was working on some kind of electrical panel near a furnace when the accident happened. He had third degree burns on over 75% of his body. He lasted almost two weeks before he died. He was a tough guy, but always good to my mother and sister. The kind of guy that never missed work and never turned down overtime. He wired houses on the weekend for extra money for us. I learned from him how to play baseball, how vital Unions are for the working class and to never cross a picket line.

He never drank but he did hit me too much. There were times that I was afraid he wouldn't stop until I had to go to the hospital. I used to wish the police would arrest him and take him away. I got to the point where I resented him but I forgive that now though. He had a very hard upbringing and I think that was part of the problem. I wish he was here now. We would have talked it over and let it go by now. This was 25 years ago.