A short note today to wish all the father’s out there a Happy Father’s Day. There exists a lot of confusion today on the definitions of a father, to be expected from a society that his having a great deal of trouble discerning the difference between a man and a woman, both necessary to produce a child, thus the holiday “Father’s Day”.
Around our compound, a week or so in front of a holiday, the question hangs in the air like a dense river fog on the Gasconade on a summer morning. What do you want for Father’s Day? (Mother’s Day, birthday, etc.) More about that shortly.
Being a father isn’t easy, not to take away from being a mom…..I am confident my father, not a patient man, gave occasional thought to eliminating my presence as a favor to the world. It all came together, though, I became productive and fulfilled his vision early on that I would end up a “cop” or game warden somewhere, as my interests always were thus focused. He did not choose those vocations, but demanded productivity. It is all we can ask of our children, as their choices in life are theirs to make.
Kids are vexing. Of that’s there can be no doubt. Dad’s wander about wondering why it is we can not put their knowledge and experience to work for us, before remembering they suffered the same lack of focus. It is a fate that will forever remain wrapped in mystery.
Here it is. Thanks dad for imparting the wisdom I needed and did not ignore. Thanks for emphasizing the importance of reasonable behavior, sometimes at the end of a belt applied with love, and for honest assessments of situations I managed to get myself into. Thanks for pointing out the obvious, and starting my productivity cycle at the age of 15 in the form of an introduction to my first employer at the Ft. Leonard Wood Commissary where I mastered the art of bagging groceries.
With all my heart, I wish you were still here. I hope I met your expectations. As for what I want for Father’s Day, the answer is simple but impossible. I want my life to continue as it is, two terrific and responsible kids, four grandchildren who understand productivity, a patient and knowing wife, a house and a young pup with lot’s of promise, and more years to fine tune that existence. I want those around me to respect me and at least give deference to the opinions I deserve to have. Is this too much? I think not…
SR
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