Ode to Dad

I may not seem the most likely of authors for a Father's Day ode in prose -- I've been known to wonder aloud things like, "Where did I come from?" -- but today is a good opportunity to reflect on some lessons and traits I'm glad my Dad shared with me.

The importance of Laughter
One thing that was definitely not lacking in my childhood home was laughter -- my parents laughed at the world and at themselves. I like to think I have a healthy portion of humor to apply to daily life as a result. Sometimes scary situations have been best remedied by the ability to shake off the seriousness and awaken yourself to the absurd. Was the monster in the horror film giving you the chills about walking home alone? Oops, there's his zipper - but maybe even funnier are the cinematic heroes in their stoic quest to battle weird forms of evil. I'm always busting out laughing in apocalyptic movies.

Mercy for Animals
I sometimes think Dad has more sympathy and understanding for the needs of dogs and squirrels than he does for his fellow humans; he did admit to wanting to be a squirrel as a child. But mercy for animals is an important lesson in caring for the world and its creatures -- including other people -- which we find all around us. I'm glad I grew up with dogs (well, since 4th grade) and learned from that easy, symbiotic relationship the value of companionship, too.

How things Work
At the heart of a lot of his hobbies, my Dad is a true engineer - he appreciates an understanding for how things work. Mechanistic relationships govern the way he sees the world - and that's enabled him to become a do-it-yourself expert. I'm glad to have been shown first-hand that anyone can find out how something works in order to fix it or to build anew. Though most of my Dad's hobbies revolve around home improvement (how fondly I remember that 90's TV show!) as well as automobiles, the lesson for me was that I could use my brain to solve problems. Being a woman was never a barrier for me, or for my Dad's willingness to involve and explain.

My Dad is my Dad and though I may sometimes want to change him, these are just a few of the things well worth keeping. Time to go hit some tennis balls with the old man!