What does your father mean to you?

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In the US, it's Father's Day this coming Sunday. It's a day to honor the man who sired us and raised us and guided us into maturity.

I'm almost 51 years old. My father is 73. He has always been a strong, definite, and somewhat demanding father. He was a firefigher in the Air Force, a carpenter, a hunter, and a cowboy (he was still working on cattle drives -- yes, like in the American western movies -- into his 60s) and everything I never was. He was a difficult man to impress and it was hard to live in his shadow.

Yet all he ever wanted was for me to find my own course in life and to be happy. As much of a "tough guy" as he seemed, I still remember being 9 years old and watching him on his day off, on his hands and knees stripping the wax off the kitchen floor by hand so my mother wouldn't have to do it.

He entered the Air Force with an 8th grade education. When I was 6, I remember him studying for his high school equivalency exams. He was and is a very intellegent man, yet poverty and want prevented him from accessing the opportunities you and I take for granted. He helped me learn the meaning of hard work and education. When I lost my job and my career over 5 years ago, his example enabled me to reenter university and become a full-time student while also working full time at a laborious job.

He has been a wonderful grandfather for me children, sharing a life and experiences I couldn't give them.

Now, what does your father mean to you?

 

My Dad's 74, fit as a fiddle, and happy to admit that he is now on the "last lap". He's getting a little forgetful from time to time, but remembers all the details of things important to him and his family, dating back to his childhood, and mine and my brother's. He has always played it straight down the line with us, and never lifted his hand, or sworn in front of his kids ever.

Took a while for us to really establish a one to one relationship, but late as it was, we have now, and are both happy about it. Only last week, I took my Dad for a pint, and it was a great experience for both of us.

To paraphrase Arroryn, if I may - my Dad's the Man !