What My Father Taught Me

As the morning dawns after a night of thundershowers with a cloudy sky and birds heralding the rise of the sun, I am thinking about my dad. This is the day that we are called to celebrate our fathers and all they mean to us, all they have encouraged us to accomplish, and to remember all they are and how their lives have changed us. My brothers and sister and I were blessed to have a great dad. My mind has been peeking at the Polaroid moments of time with my dad and thinking about all I learned about living with others through him.  My first picture is one where I stand with my brother George with toy tool boxes in hand looking at the house our parents were building in Milwaukee. I learned from my dad that girls can do all they set their minds on to accomplish. We are all given the right tools in our lives whether we are male or female. Be the best you, you can be.

The next memory I choose is traveling to California and being very sick. We were staying in a Travel Lodge and I remember opening the door to our room and there was dad with a huge Sleepy Bear teddy bear for me. I treasured that bear and now its memory. I learned that being kind and present to those who do not feel well is a gift that stays with them a life time. When we are vulnerable, kindness and love are the only gifts we desire to receive.

Our Dad liked to take us down the cliff to the tide pools. We would carefully travel the old goat path to the beach. A not so safe, but adventurous decent and climb. It was all the more magical because of the danger. We would walk through the tide pools gazing at the sea anemone, urchins, scallops, muscles. We would walk the beach and watch the waves. We would climb the cliff back home remove our shoe laces and dad would wash our shoes and laces and lay them out to dry in the sun. I learned that teaching our children is best done while we share the world together. Being together and exploring the world around us is a special gift parents can give their children. Time is the best gift and it is magnified when we share what we know, who we are, and an adventure together.

My dad used to tell me stories at bed time. We would climb into my twin bed my dad on his side with his back against the wall. He made up wonderful tales about Herman the mouse and his magic umbrella. Herman lived in our house under the wet bar and took us on wonderful adventures as we used our imaginations to travel all around Southern California. I learned that you should never let your imagination or creativity leave you as you grow up. That part of us allows us to always embrace the beauty of being a child.

My dad taught me that reading was great and I still cherish some of the books we read together. One of my favorites to this day is "Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose". 

I remember being part of building a retaining wall in our back yard in Canada. We helped carry the rocks to my dad, so he could build the wall. Our pay was any ice cream Sundae we wanted.  I learned that hard work is good and our true payment comes in our inner growth and self satisfaction. We should work hard to please ourselves. I also learned that our true rewards are not monetary, but experiential and helping to achieve something greater with others.

I learned from my dad that our pets bring joy and an added depth to our lives. They will spoil and ruin things we own. I remember the beautiful wool rugs my parents had in the living room. I also remember the discolored stains provided by our canine and feline family members. Stuff isn't important, those we love are. And true love lasts a life time whether we are easy to be with or pee on the rug. Love is true. 

Love you Dad,   Annie