Things I think about on Father’s Day are all over the place. I remember the pain of losing mine at a very young age and being very uncomfortable for a few decades. It wasn’t till I became a father myself that I started to enjoy it again but it still pains me to this day to think about all we missed together.
I sit here looking at his pictures today asking many questions that won’t be answered. It reminds me to talk to my own children more so they don’t have questions one day. It helps provide a context for life. Not knowing the experiences of someone who gave you life and the benefit of their knowledge adds to the challenge of growing up.
Resentment built over time that he wasn’t there for my ballgames and other events. That as I grew into a young man with no advice on being a young man. He didn’t get to see me married and finally happy. I pictured him when my children were born holding them with my mom. Thankfully resentment faded because my mom told me how much he loved us and gave me a few things from him.
I read some comments by shipmates and officers he was a very gregarious and funny man, which may be why I love laughter and comedy. He may have hardened my thoughts against wars even more because he fought in WW2 and Korea. He probably would have taught me how to hit a curveball and be stronger to the hoop with my left hand.
I know you can’t change what happened but you can certainly wonder how things would have been different, and I do that from time to time thinking about the impact my father might have had on me. I hope I have done a good job at being a father myself. It’s every father’s role to improve on what they were taught and given and do even better with their children.
Luckily I had a very good father-in-law and a mom who double-timed parenthood and taught me enough to hopefully be a good dad.
Time is not a given. Make the best use of it while you have the opportunity. That opportunity could be a phone call, letter (email) or visit. Make each one special. Appreciate your family and close friends because each event, gathering, party, and meal may not have everyone in attendance next time.
Random Thoughts of the Day
- Even the scammers have been hit by inflation. They used to call me and say someone has fraudulently charged $799 to my Amazon account. Now they say it’s over $999.
- I wonder if NASCAR will have to shorten the races due to fuel prices?
- It may sound strange but I enjoy hand washing my car.
- Time to have a talk with my body about its lack of cooperation after hard work. Maybe it’s trying to send me a message and I’m just stubborn.
- There is magic in capturing moments in time.
