Today is Father's Day. A day set aside to honor our fathers, which is what I hope to do in this post.

I was most definitely a daddy's girl. Of all the kids, I definitely took after dad's side of the family. In my eyes daddy was a hero and could do no wrong. Everything my dad liked, I loved as well. Daddy ate spinach and I ate it right along with him, Daddy ate Liver and onions and that became my favorite. My dad was the kind of man that would try new things and chase adventure.

I remember a grocery shopping trip that mom had let dad come along to an upscale grocery store in the cities. Everytime she turned around he was sneaking something into the cart. There was canned snake meat, oysters, sardines, three feet long spaghetti, chocolate covered insects. If it was unusual and caught his eye, into the cart it went. Mom was furious when we got to the checkout and had spent over $200 for groceries. This had to have been well over 35 years ago and that amounted to a small fortune. She insisted that Dad would never come shopping with us again. But, oh I will never forget the fun and excitement of that shopping trip. I will also never forget trying some of those unusual foods.

I remember my dad, the stormchaser. I remember going over to my grandpas when storms were approaching because his basement was better equipped for a storm shelter. I remember as soon as the storm passed, dad would want to jump into the car and follow the path of the storm to see the damage that had been done. I remember my dad as a snowstorm settled in. He would drive the miles into town to my uncles restaurant to sit and gather with the other men and brag about the drifts that they had driven through in order to get there.

I remember going fast on gravel roads. I remember spending the days with my dad since he worked night, we were always off on an adventure and we always got a candy bar or a bag of chips. I remember the daredevil dad that drove us over a flooded bridge. I remember the dad that drove home really, really fast with a pizza. Since we lived so far out in the country he was determined just once to get our pizza home while it was still hot. Coldest pizza we ever had after the trooper got done with him!!

My dad made friends with everyone and never had a prejudism against a soul. He was a man that enjoyed life, he  experienced it, tasted new foods, travelled to new places and opened my eyes to what wonders may await me as long as I never stop looking.

Time has slowed dad down. You would not know he was the sort of man I am describing. He spends his days predictably, so you see. It is up to me to carry on his legacy.

What exotic new food can I try? 

What challenge can I take?

What place can I explore?

What new friend can I make?

Tags: dad, father's day, daughter, legacy, love, tribute

Add A Comment