Well forgive me this post today. My dad, Col Joseph Legan, DC USAF passed away about 2 weeks ago. The details are not important here. What is important is I realized today how much of what I have been doing in miniature gaming was actually about sharing with him.
My brother and I had been boardgamers for 15 years. My dad bought me my first boardgame, SPIs Moscow Campaign because he saw it in a store and he was interested in the history of what we were doing but he would never participate. When I switched to miniatures he would actually play! We would talk about what scenery to get and how to paint up the tanks, airplanes and ships. He was an active participant. Granted the games couldn't be too complex but the 2 of us or the 3 of us could play and it was great. Those of you who normally read this blog know I normally wargame for escape from the world, not for social contact. With my dad it was different.
3 e boats attacking tankers bound for London. At this point my dad could only go for about 70 minutes so I had to make for a short scenario.
It was sharing great experiences between father and son. This became more important and poignant these last 17 months.
My son will occasionally play a wargame with me but he is humoring me. But my son and I share a love of baseball so we have that bond. With my dad he really enjoyed the miniatures, the planning, painting, scenarios and playing.
Yesterday I saw battlefront has a 15mm cafe out and my first thought was, "I can't wait to tell my dad!" We would start to talk about did it look good enough. How could we use it? Would I ( or we) use it enough to justify the cost even though we both knew I would get it. Then of course I realized that I won't be having those discussions; at least the way I have had in the past.
So I get why people play wargames with other people; for the camaraderie. For those of you lucky enough to have fathers and sons ( and daughters) to share this hobby with you congratulations! Enjoy the time you have with them.
Love your son
Joe
I'm very sorry to hear of your loss, Joe. Am glad though that you've got so many good memories of time spent with him. Best wishes to you and yours as you walk this hard road. Aaron
ReplyDeleteJoe,
ReplyDeleteI'd noticed your absence, even sent you an email. I'm sorry to hear about your father.
My dad was almost exclusively the only person I'd played wargames with until recently, and we had a great time, played pretty much every Sunday afternoon for a few years. When he passed in 2012 I was ready to give up wargaming; I gave a bunch of my toys away and was ready to toss the rest out, just didn't have any more use for them. But then I found this "Platoon Forward" thing and the rest, as they say, is history.
V/R,
Jack
Thank you both. Yep I am going to have to figure out the new way forward so to speak. Jack, glad PF helped jump start you back. Your stuff is great!
ReplyDeleteJoe
You bet, Joe. And I know it's not the same, but you've got "internet buddies" to discuss wargaming with.
DeleteV/R,
Jack
Losing your Dad is difficult, I lost mine a good few years ago and still miss him. We didn't have the bond through wargaming as you and your dad did so that might make it harder or easier, I don't know.
ReplyDeleteA couple of weeks ago my youngest son rang and asked if I was interested in playing an online D&D game. So for the last couple of weeks my 2 sons, 1 grandson and one son's girlfriend and I have been playing. I'm not really interested in D&D but I'm really enjoying seeing the 4 of them 2,3 or 4 times a week, hopefully it will continue and I'll have a similar gaming relationship with my sons that you did with your dad.
Who knows what the future will bring.
very cool. my son plays some star wars spaceship game and I will play that with him for much the same reason I just thought of something; maybe that was what my dad was doing with me! anyway. enjoy the moments!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great memorial to your dad. Thank you for writing about something so personal. My parents are both in their 80s and I know I'm going to be facing these losses. My dad and I are complete opposites so it's nice to see a dad so supportive of the hobby. Those are special memories indeed.
ReplyDeleteNicholas,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. Yes I was lucky. Thanks again.
Joe
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ReplyDelete