My dad is...what’s the best way to put this...unique. I was tempted to use words like weird, crazy, warped, bizarre, etc., but not all my readers (all 3 of you) know that in my family, those words are compliments. He’s not perfect, but his is an incredible man that really means a lot to me.
Of course my mother played a major role in helping me become the person I am today (and she’ll get a post for that on her birthday since I missed Mother’s Day), but the older I get, the more I realize just how much my dad influenced who I am and what I love.
When I was trying to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up (before college, not last week), I knew that I it would involve either teaching or medicine. Today I am a teacher and I’m starting on a path to become a healer.
My dad didn’t start his teaching career until I was a teenager, but he’s always been a teacher. Kids are drawn to him. Maybe it’s because he is just a taller, balder, grayer version of them. My dad never forgot how to be a kid. And he never forgot the challenges of being a kid. He’s tough on his students, but then know that he cares. And sometimes he’s been the only person that they felt did care. I couldn’t help but be a teacher; it’s in the blood on both sides of the family. But I’m grateful for the example he set in really caring for the individual student, not just their ID number and test scores. I hope my students know how much I worry about them when they have troubles and how much I rejoice with them when they succeed.
As I mentioned, I’m on the path to becoming a healer (more details at a later date) and I think I got that from my dad too. He’s had first aid training and was always the go to guy when anyone in the neighborhood got hurt. To be honest, I’m not really sure how extensive his knowledge is, but we knew that he could take care of whatever happened. And I think that trust and and the ability to put an injured person at ease did a lot towards helping the healing to begin.
Dad claims that I got my musical talents from my mom, but I know some of it came from him too. He played the trumpet in high school and helped my brothers out when they were learning trombone and drums. It may not be what he spends his free time doing, but I refuse to believe that he is not musical.
Speaking of free time...my dad works until he is ready to drop and then watches TV and reads to relax and recharge. And his choice of TV shows, books, and movies reflects who is is and certainly shaped my personal philosophy.
My dad is a sci-fi fan and we’ve seen many shows together. We watched Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn so many times that we could quote all the best lines. Of course, with his super brain, that only one viewing; I took a few more to get it. But it’s not the quotes that formed my beliefs, but the concepts I learned through countless episodes and movies: there are always possibilities; the color of your skin, your gender, your political affiliations do not determine your value; family is worth sacrificing for, and that family may include people that you have no legal or blood connection to; those we perceive as the enemy can become our trusted friends, etc.
But enough about sci-fi. Let’s get to the really nerdy stuff: comic books. You know, I didn’t really appreciate them as a kid. Comic book collecting was just something Dad did. I don’t know all his reasons for loving them, but here are a few things I’ve learned from comic books and super heroes: we all have alter egos and hopefully the public persona and the private persona both work for good in their own ways; we all have things that make us strange and different (and I wish I had some mutant superpowers) and it’s those quirky things that allow us to serve mankind; we all need wardrobe updates occasionally, but drastic changes can make other people uncomfortable.
When we would watch Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris movies, I remember being impressed by their skill, but it wasn’t really my thing. But now I have found my thing, and surprise, it is based on the martial arts. I have issues with violence, and as much as I respected the discipline of the martial arts, it is still fighting and that bothered me. Tai chi, however, is based on the same moves, balance, and discipline, but is a form developed for promoting health, not for battle. So once again, my dad and I have a lot to talk about.
Just to be clear, my dad is not a violent man; he just enjoys beat-em-up movies. My dad is actually one of the kindest most, loving men you will ever meet. He will never be a rich man because he can’t see people or a program in need and not do something about it. I don’t know how many thousands of dollars he has spent over the years getting things to help his scouts. They didn’t have enough tents, so he bought some. When my parents needed a new car, he bought a mini-van to make scouting trips easier. (Their kids were all adults when they purchased their first mini-van.) My dad will literally give you the shirt off his back. Well, maybe not the shirt, but he did take off his brand new coat and give it to someone he thought needed it more than he did.
I think part of my dad’s incredible character comes from the heroes of his childhood: The Silver Screen cowboys. Roy Rogers and Gene Autry wore the white hats and there was never any doubt that they would do the right thing. Yes, I love me some Jack Bauer, and I know that unfortunately our world is much more like the world of 24 that any setting of a Roy Rogers movie, but still I miss knowing that there is a right choice and our hero will make it. Plus, I’ve never heard Kiefer sing, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be as good as Roy or Gene.
My dad’s favorite scripture is Isaiah 49:31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings of eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.”
He believes it. He lives it.
One day my mom made a comment that the Isaiah verse was Dad’s favorite, but Job 27:5 is who he is:
“...till I die I will not remove my integrity from me.”
Of all the amazing things I have learned form my dad, this one is the most important.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad! I love you!
