My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." -Harmon Killebrew
Dad never lost his sense of priority. Never, at least, in the 50 plus (plus) years I have known him. What was important to him (including love, honor, duty, faith, family) became important to me, too. Not because these were good things (which they were), but because he was good, and you could trust him to know what was good. Over time, these good things become important to all of us.
The Boy Scout meetings, the trips to the junkyards looking for a pan big enough to cook a 27 pound turkey in, building a camper or a shooting pit. All of this was quality time, and allowed me the true honor of watching a dad at work. I didn't realize at the time that he was growing me up.
Today is his birthday. I chatted with him this morning. We talked about cranking up the fishing boat and heading to the northwoods, just as in years past. It's not really about the fishing. The Priority is simpler than that. I don't even need to bring a pole. It's just something to do between hearing his stories around the campfire.
Let's go Dad. The fish need catching.
2 comments:
Happy Birthday to your Dad. Sounds like a fine man to me.
I especially liked the quote about raising boys.
From 1969 to 1979, my best friend lived two doors down. Mr. R. lived between us. Mr. R. did not want kids ruining his finely manicured lawn, and so he would make us walk down to the street and back up the driveway. A dozen years later, I had two exuberant little children of my own, playing soccer in the front yard. My husband came out and yelled "Hey, I just planted grass seed there!" I thought, Oh dear, I've married Mr. R.!!!! I stopped hubby on the porch and said, "you let those boys play. When you're an old man you can worry about your yard."
Mr. R. recently passed on. In his obituary I learned that he had no kids. And that one of his hobbies was gardening. Well, that part I already knew.
-cmk
Post a Comment