Happy Father’s Day
I came home Tuesday night to finish a garbage disposal repair. It’s probably over 20 years old. It went out a few days ago and the new garbage disposal had arrived. I finished the installation and went downstairs to get the vacuum to clean up my mess under the sink.
As I came upstairs, I looked out the kitchen window and heard my son, “Papa, I need your help” — the sprinkler was shooting straight up in the backyard. Somehow, as Joshua was riding through the backyard on his Segway the sprinkler head popped up and he ran into it. How is it, as soon as you finish one project there’s another waiting (in this case, created)?
The joys of being a father, a fixer-of-many-things. I wonder if that’s one of the things my children will remember about me?
This week, my plan was to share a memory about my father, not expecting I would have some significant experiences as a dad myself that I’m sure one day will be memorable to my children.
One of the fond memories I have of my father is watching him be a greeter at church. Everyone who came through the door, he welcomed, shook their hand, and made them smile. I especially remember watching him greet other men, he would hone in on the ones that carried pens in their pocket. He would ask them if he could look at the pen and eventually ask if he could keep it. He never kept them and always returned them after he was done joking with them. I used to think it was so silly, but now I realize how gifted my dad was at engaging folks from the very first moment they stepped foot in the front door of the church, immediately making them smile every Sunday morning. I miss his smile and the kindness he showed so many.
I’m not sure why this “pen” memory has stayed with me so long. I miss him.
I hope you each have a wonderful Father’s Day remembering your own fathers and being remembered by your children.
#2ndHalfWealth
