Today is an important day, and not just because I’m going to be getting some more presents. Although, really, that’s a pretty nice bonus. This is a day to celebrate what we’re all trying our best to do, to be good dads. It’s Father’s Day! Let’s party like it’s 19-99! Okay, sorry for the dated pop culture reference, but it just slipped out. In fact, I’m not even apologizing. It’s Father’s Day today. I get that one for free.
Anyway, I’m sure you all have sent out your Father’s Day cards and already called up your old man. It’s rather like paying it forward. You can’t really expect to be treated the right way if you don’t treat the other dads in your life the right way.
Today is a day to say thanks. Even if your dad wasn’t the greatest, there must have been something good about him, something that helped you to become the dude you are today. That’s what you need to thank him for. Today is a day to be positive.
With that in mind, thanks, Dad, for making it to most of my sporting events when I was younger and also coaching a lot of my teams. You set a good example for me to live up to. How you actually made it through coaching me all those years without actually killing me, I’ll never know, but I do appreciate it.
There are so many good memories I have of my dad, including the day he decided to show me how Tarzan swung on a vine. He grabbed the vine and launched himself out over the creek. Only to have the vine break on him halfway across, dropping him flat on his back in the middle of the creek. That was a lesson well learned.
I also learned that it is probably not a good idea to decide you need a good stretch during your child’s sporting event and do so while standing between the spectators and the game. Really. Don’t ask.
Most important of all, though, I learned that it is possible to love your son and daughter as much as possible and to want only the best for them, even when you don’t agree with what they’re doing. You just want them to be happy, and that’s all that matters to you. Yeah, that’s what I most remember about my dad. Not that he’s dead, or anything like that. It’s just that he was there in the formative years of my life and that’s how I’ll always think of him. Strong. Dark haired. With hair. Most of all, loving.
Thanks, Dad. You give me a lot to live up to.
– Richard
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