A very happy Father's Day to all the dads, granddads, stepdads, adopted dads, and honorary dads out there.
I thought I would just sit and ponder a moment and see what stories about my dad came to mind.
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I started taking piano lessons when I was four or five. A couple of years later I wanted to quit. Mom tried to talk me out of it, but I was insistent. Dad and I went out on to the driveway and had a little chat. I took lessons for 12 more years after that. Thanks, Dad.
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He bought me my first car, which I then wrecked. He bought me another one. As I'm pondring and not censoring my thoughts, this makes me laugh because he bought my sister a car, which she then wrecked. He bought her another one. He bought my oldest brother a car. Wrecked. And replaced. Can't recall what my little brother's first vehicle was.
All in all, we were bad drivers in our youth. The list of vehicles that my Dad has purchased in the past 30 years is very, very long.
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When I was in high school, my family was on summer vacation in the town where Dad grew up. (Very small town.) I needed to make a photocopy, and the only copier around was at the bank. I walked in, and without a word the lady behind the counter looked at me and told me who my Dad was. We look that much alike.
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Dad's got lots of sayings. One of my favorites is what he said to me when I was in my early 20's and contemplating a pretty large decision. Lots of talk, but I was stalling on making a decision. He said, "It's either the fear of God, or the lead anchor in your butt."
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I know now, but I didn't know back then, that on the day of my wedding my Dad told my mom, "Those two are oil and water." (He was right, but he never tried to change my mind.)
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For years as a kid, Dad had me convinced he invented onion rings.
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Dad's an excellent card player, and a wizard when it comes to gin rummy. I beat him once. We played 48 hands. The little scrap of paper where he kept score is one of my prized possessions.
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In a beautiful way, I'm finding that as I sit and think about moments with my Dad, Mom was always right there too. This week they celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary.
So thanks, Dad. For asking Mom to dance.
Thanks Dad and Mom for having four kids, because I sure do love my brothers and my sister.
And now I get to go celebrate with the people I love most.
Love, love, love. What more is there.
