Quite a good topic. It truly was a different time back then. World war 2 and all.
Don, I do agree with the tactfulness of the way Peter handled the statement about Kathy.
Just from my perspective, My father was quite distant as well and very harsh. However, his father was twice as bad. So, I know that he was trying to break the chain. He would open up at times. I know (personally) it is hard to break those chains, when I start acting like my father, my wife will call me by his name instead of mine, it makes me step back and go...hmmmm
I remember a few years before he died, He took me out to his shop and told me, "I have to tell you something". So, I followed him out to the shop, he said, "You know I was married before your mom?" You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was 28 years old !!! When dad died in 03, the were married 43 years. I never knew that he got married when he was 16, moved to Michigan and then got divorced and moved back to Pennsylvania. Holy cow, he waited that long to tell me that!! I asked my brothers that (they are older than I am) and they all laughed at me.
Sorry, for the story, but folks back then just didn't do huggy, kissy and share their feelings. Now with social media, Facebook and all, you know when your friend goes out for ice cream immediately. It's crazy! Some things about technology I like, others..... Not so much.
I wish now I would have had more time to talk with my dad about "life" stuff. But he is gone and I don't. I miss him greatly, this year is 10 years, and there are times that I want to call him to ask him how to build......
However, I do have children and I sit with them a lot and talk "life" so they don't have to sit on a forum when they are 40 wishing they had talked to their dad more ;D Only Kidding, I love this place, very much like a family.
That's my 2 cents....