Happy Father's Day

What can I say I have learned from my father? 

I mean I should honor him somehow, since my family never ever does anything fun for Mother's Day or Father's Day.  We have NEVER gone out to eat for these holidays to my recollection.  Mom maybe got flowers or chocolates and maybe home made breakfast...which she probably had to clean up. 

So anyway.  What has my dad taught me? 

Well nothing to do with sports that is.  Absolutely nothing.  He can't catch a ball more than 50% of the time.  We have never had the father and son catch.  We did have the father and son this is how you "clean the bathroom."

He does have a sense of irony.  We had the "talk" conveniently in Intercourse, PA.  It probably helped him bring up the subject.  Not sure why this made it in here but it did. 

I did get his wonderfully defined and muscular legs.  Those have definitely been passed on and developed by me.

I've learned to work hard and to expect more out of myself.  That's a big one.  Usually when he says you will understand when you get older he's right. 

I've also really gained an appreciation of the arts and history from him.  It is he who has widened my horizons in terms of movies that I have watched.  He has picked out ones with good messages and lessons in them.  Captain's Courageous is a good example.  We also both love Fargo and Airplane. 

History and my appreciation of it comes from him.  We both enjoy history and I've learned a tremendous amount from him.  History, and knowing it well, helps you predict the future.

I think I've developed some of his sense of humor, although I don't think he ever gets to see it when he is around.  He tends to see the quiet and more introverted side of me.  The laid back and passive one. Although he can press buttons and get me to react and I think he really enjoys doing that. 

I've gained important lessons and values surrounding the importance of people from him.  The importance of family and community.  Regardless of your beliefs, church is important on the micro level for the simple fact that it is a community and it brings people together.  I would argue it's more meaningful than just that, but you can't deny that it does that at it's basic level.

I've learned to track every penny and be organized with receipts.  You have to read everything you sign.  I've learned basic business and law from him.

I've also benefited from his friendships and family friends. 

He has taken my family on many wonderful trips and we have experienced many great things. 

I've learned basic economics.  It's not worth it to put this much work in for this little reward. 

He tells great stories, and I want to be able to tell stories like he does.

I have developed an appreciation for cars from him.  It was extremely painful to me that my dad was not with me when I bought my first car.  I wanted him to be there.  I always envisioned it, because he is a car guy.  He was involved from afar.  He test drove my car and the other car I considered, but he didn't get to see it when it was brand new and shiny and perfect.  I cleaned it up when I got home for Christmas so it would look as new as possible.  It meant a lot to me for him to see my new car then.  I'm very grateful he was able to atleast be involved and know I bought my first car.  His father, his father's father and his father's father's father didn't live as long as my dad has so I'm grateful he's still around.      

My love of Lake Winnipesaukee came from him.

I've recently learned to shut my mouth and just do things.  I just quit arguing, or complaining when I don't agree with things and just accept it and move on.  It's a necessary skill for the work place.

Don't talk, just do.  Great advice, and I've received it plenty of times. 

We are very different and very similar in many ways.  I can see a lot of myself in him at times.  There are also times where I try to do the exact opposite of what he would do.  I'm more of a risk taker than he is.  Maybe I should say he doesn't take risks, because I'm not known to be a wild and crazy guy even though I strive to be interesting and me.  I'm more athletic and more patient.  I'm more creative than he is, and he is more organized.   

I also don't have his sense of style.  He is known for saying that he doesn't follow trends, he starts them.  Thankfully I didn't join him on his quest of being branded the short shorts guy. 

I don't think I feel like he casts a shadow on me at all, but I feel pressure to do as well as he did.  I think I put that pressure on myself.  I put lots of pressure on myself.  More than you or he might imagine.

I guess I should be most grateful for the fact that he has allowed me to pursue my own career.  It doesn't feel like a blessing at times that I have to make my own way.  Sometimes you wish it was easy, and that you are like the kids who did nothing in school and then were handed well paying jobs at the family business.  Career wise I've had to go it alone.  Whatever I make of myself in my career, I did by myself.  I got lots of help, don't get me wrong, but Dad never knew someone who got me in on my name alone.   That's a blessing that many people in my area don't have.      

So anyway, that's a little bit on what I want to say about my father on this father's day!