I love my father an awful lot but it's not something I tell him very often. I figured there couldn't be a more appropriate time to try and capture how much he means to me than on Father's Day. With that, I present the top ten reasons why I love my father:
All of the times at Point Sebago, my decision to attend Bates College, my hope to have a vacation home in Maine someday . . . these all are because of the time my father spent in Maine growing up. In particular, my father grew close to Maine as a boy and then passed on this connection to me when I was growing up. I love Maine and always will, thanks to my father.
2. His sense of humor
It doesn't seem all that long ago that I found myself cringing at my father's jokes as he'd usually be telling the same one over and over or retelling jokes from some comedian that used to perform back in the '60s . . . and then I noticed that I routinely quote funny lines from movies and shows over and over (such as TWSS) and over the years, have gotten more and more fond of movies like Young Frankenstein and comedians like Rodney Dangerfield . . . the funny thing is, regardless of my seemingly insurmountable dating ineptitude, the ladies always seem to think I'm pretty funny and for that, I can thank my father.
3. His appreciation for the past
He doesn't throw many things out, he loves to talk about the "good old days", and he often talks about movies, actors, friends, and events that to me, are in a galaxy far, far away. Why is this important to me? It's taught me that you should never forget where you came from and always try to learn from your past mistakes. In particular, the past provides us with an opportunity to reflect on both what has been and what could have been; my appreciation of this has allowed me to put certain things behind me, while learning from other things so I can become a better man. It's also taught me that one should never forget old friends.
4. His love for jazz and Frank
My taste in music ranges far and wide but I have a special place in my heart for Frank Sinatra and jazz. I have my father to thank for getting me into Ol' Blue Eyes, and with the jazz, I feel connected to the grandfather I never had the privilege of meeting, but whose name I am thankful my father and mother chose for me.
5. His love of basketball
As a kid, I always considered basketball to be my best sport and it was consistently the one I enjoyed playing the most. My only regret is that I never developed the jump shot my father apparently had going during his Silver Lake High School days in the late '50s. Even though my father still loves high school and college basketball, over the last several years he has lost a little love for the NBA (and that's putting it nicely). Even so, he puts up with my steadfast support for all things Boston Celtics (even that overpaid stiff Pierce!) and for that, I am thankful :)
6. His past international travels
During his short stint in the US Army, my father spent a lot of time traveling in Europe while he was stationed in France. Later in life, he spent a lot of time going on cruises throughout the Caribbean. While I didn't spend any time abroad during college, afterwards I decided to take the plunge and spend nearly two months in Asia where I met some amazing people who I am still friends with today. After that, I hit Dubai and Zurich. Who knows what's next but my love for all things ex-US and my willingness to look to international waters for fun and memories all comes back to my father.
7. His mother and father
Grandma Duffy taught me the value of real estate (and a great pot of baked beans!) and Grandpa Smith (through my father) inspired me to try foods like alligator and develop a love for the woods. More importantly, I can tell how much my father loved his parents and that has made me realize the importance of family and how your parents should be always be respected and coveted by their children.
8. His love for reading
My mother always talks about how I started reading at a very young age and how my father would read aloud to me before I could do it myself. While my father always says that I got all of my "brains" from my mother, I know better. I have learned so much through reading and like to think that my ability to think about things from a "big picture perspective", as well as to appreciate the details, is due in part to the amount of reading I've done over the years. From The Hardy Boys to organic chemistry textbooks, I've always had my head in a book and will always have a book close by, no matter where I am.
9. His "whiskers"
While it's been years since I got my last one, my father used to give my brothers and I a "whisker" when we were kids. Basically he'd put his arm around one of us and rub his face against our own whenever it had been a few days since he last shaved. I know it sounds silly and seems like a funny way to show affection but while my father has transitioned to giving our hair an occasional tussle or patting us on the back now and then, I don't think anything will ever top the "whisker".
10. His unwavering love and support
I've screwed up more times than I can count and while many of us do while we're kids, my ability to make bonehead decisions continues to be a regular part of my existence. Whenever I've needed something, my father has always been there for me, no questions asked. We may not always see eye to eye on things but no matter how stubborn or stupid I behave, he always does everything he can to help me out. Despite all of the trials and tribulations I've experienced to this point of my life, I'm pretty happy with how I've turned out and I know that I wouldn't be where I am, nor who I am, if it wasn't for my father.
I hope my father will read this tonight (actually, I can pretty much guarantee it given the close eye he keeps on my Facebook page) and see that I love him for many different reasons.
I love you Dad and Happy Father's Day!
