Unfortunately, my dad is gone, but not forgotten.
I have great memories of a really good, solid, loving, eccentric, funny, demanding and adventursome father. If he hadn’t settled down, fell in love with my Mom and had 6 kids..he would have been a freight train hopper or furniture maker or gold-miner or oil painter or writer, all things that he dabbled in before kids. But, no he became a successful businessman affording his family security, great vacations and an early retirement so he could enjoy his wife, kids and grand kids. He had a great life but it was a little too short for me. Some day when I get a scanner I will post a picture of him. He was a nice looking man, with a twinkle in his eye.
You know how they say a woman marries her dad, for me its true. My husband is a very similar kind of dad. There is a lot of hands on playing and sports, lots of silliness and appreciation of twisted humor, high expectations regarding behavior and school work and also a desire to expose the kids to unique experiences. Sometimes it bothers me that the kids don’t get how good they have it with their dad, and have a dad that is around, a lot. (unlike my dad, who traveled tons) But most of the time, it just makes me happy that my kids have such a great dad.
To all the dads and men who have special children in their lives…Happy Day!