Fathers Day, Sunday-June 15 is a day of commemoration for good old dad…. our mentor, our coach, our master of barbecuing and whisker rubs and that great guy to have around the house who would do anything to protect his loving wife and family. My greatest treasure in life was to finally become a dad and later a grandfather, and to still have the joy of pampering my own dad. This week I will try to pay tribute to all those fine gentleman, who come in all walks of life, ages, sizes and shapes and possess their very own unique, proud and sometimes stubborn personality; all of which we have learned to love so much.
How we saw our father as we were growing up
*At four years old: My daddy can do anything.
*At five years old: My daddy knows a whole lot.
*At six years old: My dad is smarter than your dad.
*At eight years old: My dad doesn’t know exactly everything.
*At 10 years old: In the olden days, when my dad grew up, things were sure different.
*At 12 years old: Oh, well, naturally, Dad doesn’t know anything about that. After all he is far too old to remember his childhood.
*At 14 years old: Don’t pay any attention to my dad. He is so old fashioned.
*At 21 years old: Him? My Lord, he’s hopelessly out of date.
*At 25 years old: Dad knows about it, but then he should because he has been around for so long.
*At 30 years old: Maybe we should ask Dad what he thinks? After all, he’s had an awful lot of experience at just about everything.
*At 35 years old: I’m not doing a single thing until I talk with my dad.
*At 40 years old: I wonder how Dad would have handled it? He was so wise.
*At 50 years old: I’d give anything if Dad were here now so that I could talk this over with him. Too bad I didn’t listen a little more and appreciate how smart he was when I was younger. I know now that I could have learned a lot from him. I hope my kids will realize that I will always be there for them, no matter what.
All time great dad statements to their children
*When I say no, I mean no. Why? Because, that’s why
*As long as you tried your hardest, that’s all that matters.
*We’ll do this the right way. My way.
*I’m spanking you because I love you. This will hurt me a lot more than it hurts you.
*Don’t ask me, ask your Mother.
*Do what I say, not what I do.
*If I didn’t hear it, you didn’t say it.
*When I was your age?
*You’ll realize the value of money once you start earning your own.
*For the fourth time this week this is your last warning.
*When we were in school history was called current affairs, we added math problems on our fingers, we had to eat our lunch in our homeroom, and most girls were out of bounds until we got to High School!
Do you remember when your dad…?
*Took you fishing for the first time, you caught five, while he sat on a hook and only caught a cold?
*Asked you never to tell your mom that together you put too much soap in the washing machine and mixed your bright red shorts with her nice white pillowcases, which some how disappeared forever?
*Tried to do a somersault while coaching gym class, split his best pants, and spent the rest of the day at the chiropractor?
*Agreed to drop you off two blocks from your first school dance, but then volunteered to chaperone for the next one?
*Was the most handsome dad at your graduation, could still dance up a storm, and actually tried to understand most of your dates.
*Never missed a beat when it came to changing diapers, even though it was 23 years and no safety pins after he last performed the feat on you?
*Always tried to appear so tough and macho, but melted when he saw your first piano recital or when his son hit his first home run, blushed when he walked you down the aisle, and shed a tear when someone was sick or sad?
A little more of this and that
*A company held a contest for kids with the theme, “the nicest thing my father ever did for me” and the one youngster answered, “He married my mother.”
*The little girl advised her father at the dinner table that while it was he who wore the pants in the family it was mom who tells him what pair to put on.
*Grandparents are a special breed of kinfolk all their own. As children or grandchildren they love us, they hug us, they spoil us, and then they send us home.
Whatever the case when we are toasting them in person, calling them on the phone, or sending them a card for their special day on June 15, please remember that we all are so proud to be called your dad no matter how old our kids might be, then the real bonus comes when the little duffers jump up on our knees and refer to us as a granddad. Have a great and hopefully dry and sunny week, all of you.
