Have a pea
Not me, but my dad.

--------------

My dad was born to barely literate parents in the basement of a Chicago apartment building in 1927. For the first six months he was a fine, healthy baby, but after that his life went quickly downhill.

He contracted polio.

As a result, he has never walked without pain or a pronounced limp. As a second result, his father rejected him out of ignorance, fear, and god knows what other character flaws. To say dad had a hard childhood is a colossal understatement. His father was merciless, and when a younger brother was born it was as though dad evaporated.

He became a teacher and put up with his parents' assinine statements like "since those who can't do, teach, that's perfect for him" and worse. He wound up specializing in teaching students in bad situations--criminal records, badly broken homes, behavioral or physical problems--and quite literally saved a few lives. To this day he still gets letters from his students thanking him for what he did.

On his first teaching assignment in 1951 he went running (such as it was) to tend to an injured kid. With his unsteady gait he planted his good leg wrong and proceeded to destroy his good knee, bending it completely backward. He narrowly avoided amputation (orthopaedic surgery was not so precise in those days) but was now very much crippled for life. Nine surgeries later they gave up and simply fused his knee joint--it doesn't bend anywhere between his hip and his ankle.

Still...he never gave up. He couldn't run, but he had a cannon for a pitching arm and could hit the ball out of the park with ease. And even though he couldn't play (American) football, he loved the game so much that he would go on to coach it, referee it, and when he could no longer do that, he became the broadcast voice of the local high school team on the radio.

He married the girl he met in high school and had four kids with her, putting all of us through college on a teacher's salary. He and my mom took in more than a couple of strays, mostly students of his who were really on the edge. Some stayed a few weeks, others for years, and they even took custody of one to keep her out of jail. She went on to become a university professor.

He has been retired for almost 25 years, and his health has steadily gotten worse. A couple of years ago he fell in the middle of the night, resulting in a trip to the hospital, a surgical intervention, a pacemaker and a lengthy rehab--all together, about 4 months. I visited him often and talked to his nurses to get a fuller picture of his recovery. One of his rehab nurses has this to say about his progress:

"You know," she said, "I have never worked with a patient who is more determined than he is. He keeps trying until he is exhausted. He never gives up."

I told my dad this, and he looked at me for a minute before his eyes got misty. "I can't give up. Trying is the only thing I know. If I quit, I'm not sure what would happen."

He's still around, though each time I visit he's a little bit weaker, a little bit closer to the end. Still, he insists on helping my mom with what he can around the house, and insists on making a batch of his spaghetti sauce every once in a while, even though he can no longer reach some of the items from the shelf to make it.

That's my dad. He has overcome many more obstacles than most of us will, and has never given up. He fought through all of that just so that he could make a normal life for himself and his family.

Small wonder his favorite poem is this one: www.poemhunter.com/poem/invictus/
(grundig Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 7:01, 63 replies)

There are some who are forged from stuff that is greater than most of us.
I hope your old man goes when his time has come, sleeping peacefully whilst dreaming of something that he really enjoyed doing.

EDIT: Having logged out I must say that I am really fucking glad that Shambo has me on ignore so I *don't* have to see most of the shit that he writes. Can't believe I'm saying this but Ignore2.0 may not be such a bad thing. Still makes some threads nonsensical tho.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 7:34, closed)

I can't believe you're wishing death on poor old Papa Grundig here.
I don't know how you do things in your culture, but over here that's regarded as pretty bad form.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 9:01, closed)

Feel free to put me on ignore Monty.
If you read the OP and my response carefully rather than sounding out the phonics you'll find that I am in no way wishing death upon grundig's father.

But then I don't imagine you'll bother, all you seem to be here for is the shit-stirring.

So, your non-pun, actual thing that happened that is relevant to the qotw is?
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 9:45, closed)

I've posted it already:
Lego 'Bantha'.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 9:47, closed)

I'm failing to see how "Lego 'Bantha'."
Answers
"Have you ever fought back from a terrible illness? Got out of a job that was going nowhere? Secured a great victory against the odds through dishonesty and cheating?"

Maybe that's just me.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 9:49, closed)

Lego. Bantha.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 9:52, closed)

M.U.L.T.I.P.A.S.S.
"Hahahahah, let's hijack this weeks qotw to make it 'Biggest thing that you can shove up your arse'. That'll be really fucking mature and funny. Hahahaahah!"

Write a real story. Then reply, otherwise you're wasting your finger-to-keyboard effort.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:00, closed)

Can I have a link to yours, please?
I can't be bothered to wade through the reams of boo-hooing and heartwarming inspiro-yarns looking for it.

It'd better be good after all this.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:02, closed)

*looks at watch*

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:13, closed)

Feel free to look at my profile.
Most weeks I've got a story.
Most weeks you've got your vitriolic shit. That isn't a story & denigrates others input to that particular question.

Kinda wish search was working. Right now.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:44, closed)

No way I'm clicking on your profile dude.
I might catch 'tosser'.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:56, closed)

No need to worry about that.
If you had it when you were a kid, you become immune.
(username failed moderation, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 11:51, closed)

But what's the biggest thing he's ever put up his arse?

( BraynDedd Natasha Kaplinsky's labia majora, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 7:54, closed)

Everyone's ignoring you BD.
For shame.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:46, closed)

Haha. He sounds shit. They should have put the lame mongrel down before he learned to whinge about it.

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 8:20, closed)

Aww, it thinks it's Frankie Boyle. Bless.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:26, closed)

They shouldn't even have bothered putting you down.
They should have just left you in the barn to bore yourself to death.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 18:56, closed)

I like this.

( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 19:53, closed)

Without clicking that link,
I'm gonna guess it's 'I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth' by Pam Ayres.

It is, isn't it? I think I've got the measure of this joker.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 8:58, closed)

You are a rude and disrespectful cunt.

(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 9:48, closed)

^this

(Studentken is looking for motivation on, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 9:49, closed)

^ town aaaa-ah, is comin' lakka ghos' town.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 11:35, closed)

Hey, it's a good poem!
I'm not judging.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 9:52, closed)

Plus, you're a morally-repugnant philanderer
so if you don't mind I think I'll get my character judgements elsewhere, thanks.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:07, closed)

Want a good measure of how witty you actually are?
Look at your posts, see how many times you post something, then a few minutes later, post a follow up.

'And another thing' . . .

Even you are aware the first one was a bit crap. I can tell you, the second one normally is as well.
(username failed moderation, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:24, closed)

It's called the 'Columbo Technique' and I stand by it.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:26, closed)

It's not really, I just made that up.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:27, closed)

Se'sly.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:27, closed)

It's probably the only way
you could have racked up 70,000 posts here.
(username failed moderation, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:29, closed)

You've

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:32, closed)

got

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:32, closed)

my

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:32, closed)

number

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:32, closed)

Ah, the "OkCupid" troll gambit.
Well played, Sir. Well played.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:48, closed)

Not that well played, really - one shouldn't hyphenate words ending in "-ly".
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 11:21, closed)

Well that just undermines the entire point doesn't it?
The point that perhaps someone who uses the internet to pursue extra-marital sexual affairs might not be in the strongest of positions to declare someone else to be 'a cunt'. That point.

All completely invalidated by a hyphen. I see that now and apologise unreservedly.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 11:33, closed)

According to more than one QOTW answer in the last month
plentyoffish is the place to go for slappers.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 11:35, closed)

What a truly inspirational and amazing chap
Have a click!
(brutal stack Raided the beeves of Apollo on, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:19, closed)

this isn't nearly as inspirational
as the story about a public schoolgirl's trip to France to jolly about in a boat before a race in Henley. But I've clicked it anyway.
( Larry Death Anger Pain Fear Aggression, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:42, closed)

Have a [click].
Looking at some of the replies above, it appears that someone has forgotten to lock the door to the cunt shed.
(minimalist ..., Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:43, closed)

SHED lol

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 10:57, closed)

You calling my shed a cunt? You cunt.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:00, closed)

Cuntshed
hehe
(sittingduck Attention seeking, bullshitting fuck-knuckle, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:17, closed)

I like this.

( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 11:33, closed)

Awesome story

(sittingduck Attention seeking, bullshitting fuck-knuckle, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:18, closed)

Does Ringofyre really not realise
That he is not this site's moral arbiter. This site doesn't have one.

Posting entries to qotw, whether fictional or true, is tacitly inviting comments from other users. Nobody has any more right to post than anyone else, and if people choose to be negative then it's nobody else's business.

Personally, I found this story to be long-winded and boring. I couldn't give a fuck about his disabled dad.

And I think Ringo should give up on the keyboard warrior thing, nobody cares what he thinks, it's not his website and he's not a mod. He's a sanctimonious blowhard.
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:30, closed)

WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE MODS WHO WERE SO HAPPY WITH THE "STEP" HAMMER EARLIER THIS YEAR?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:37, closed)

they're all on holiday at Haut de la Garenne, fingering kids.

(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:39, closed)

Are you kidding?
QOTW is full of nothing but self-appointed moral arbiters, most of which operate from an extremely questionable moral position themselves.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:39, closed)

says the peddler of toy-based nonceporn.

(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:41, closed)

My point exactly
In your tiny mind, taking pictures of women in their mid-twenties and above is "nonceporn". Also a pedlar ("peddler" being the yank spelling) is a travelling salesman and right now I'm neither selling nor travelling. Good effort, but D- I'm afraid.
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:47, closed)

nonce means 'sex offender'
It's not limited to peadophilia

HTH xx
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 13:17, closed)

"Peadophilia" presumably being a sexual attraction to legumes
Also, taking pictures of women with their consent still isn't a sex offence, but you're improving, maybe a C- this time
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 15:15, closed)

You're defeating your own argument really.
If people choose to be negative then it's nobody elses business, right?

So why are you complaining about Ringofyre?

And if nobody cares what he thinks, why are you complaining about Ringofyre?

And if this site doesn't have a moral arbiter, why are you complaining about Ringofyre?

You're not very bright.
(username failed moderation, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 12:57, closed)

This one could run for a while.
Could someone gaz me when you've all agreed what is/isn't acceptable, and who will be the judge of what is/isn't morally repugnant?

Thanks.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 19:49, closed)

Coming from the author of the most epic /offtopic thread of all time, I take these criticisms very seriously indeed.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 13:06, closed)

Hahahahaha
*******
If you read one thread this year, make sure it's that one.

Paul Ross
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 16:27, closed)

It's a moving story, well told, with warmth and humility
Unfortunately it has been traduced by iconoclasts squabbling about bragging rights.

Perhaps it'll be of some comfort that when your dad finally passes they're unlikely to carry on this disrespectful scrap in person in the cemetery.

Thank you for posting, Grundig.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 20:14, closed)

Thanks Disappointed
It's all in good fun. I don't mind the debate and banter and arguing and posturing. I'm old enough to remember when this part of the internet was just fields, and even then this sort of thing went on.

I don't even mind the bonobos smearing their faeces on the wall to get the attention they crave. Makes me a bit sad for them, actually--this is the pinnacle of their influence and achievement. How...empty.
(grundig Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 21:30, closed)

Nice, esp the bonobo metaphor.

( 4Q just lurking, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 21:40, closed)

ThanQ, 4Q..
Glad you liked it. Feel free to use as needed.
(grundig Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 22:38, closed)

Don't say things like that - it'll just inflame them
Luckily it's the weekend - most of the bollocks above will be forgotten by the bored call-centre (center - sorry) apes dragging their knuckles round the shopping centres (centers - sorry) this weekend.

I just felt compelled to apologise on behalf of those who do have empathy and understanding - your story deserves respect, not thuggery.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 21:49, closed)

Well, now...
If we worry about inflaming them, that's just letting the terrorists win, innit? Next thing you know we'll refrain from publishing cartoons for fear of...oh, wait...nevermind.

And you needn't worry about center/centre. I speak that UK-ish dialect. But thank you for the courtesy.
(grundig Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!, Fri 14 Dec 2012, 22:11, closed)