Lessons The most enduring memories I have of my father are the lessons he taught me. Dad taught me little things. Like how to tie my shoes when I was four. Or the time when I was around five, and he noticed that when I washed my hands, it was a matter of splashing them with a little cold water, then moving on. He showed me how to adjust the water temperature and scrub thoroughly with soap. Then there was the time when I was about ten when he noticed that I handled money by crunching bills in my pocket. He showed me how to stack the bills neatly in my wallet, all facing the same direction and in descending denominations. Little life lessons. Hundreds of them over the years. Dad taught me more important things, too. He taught me, through his example, how to be a man. How to stand up to my obligations. He was married to a woman for more than 50 years-a daunting task for any man. And Mom was a feisty woman! But he took good care of Mom until the day she died, and never stepped out on her. They loved each other deeply and devoted themselves to their children. Dad taught me through his example how a man should work for a living. He held down a full-time job and ran a sideline business for many years. I started out life as a lazy, whiny little boy and ended up a hard working man. I learned how from my Dad. Dad taught me how to be a father. He was involved in our lives, but never heavy-handed with his discipline. He drove us to sports and Scouts, took us to Dodger games, coached Pop Warner football, went dirt bike riding with us. He was like a father to our friends, whose own fathers didn't always do those things with them. A father's job never ends. When I told him that I was sorry to hear about the cancer, his reply was, "So was I!" (did I mention that Dad taught us sarcasm?) When I told him that I was sorry he had to go through this, he said in a weak voice, "I've been lucky my whole life. I was married for 50 years. I survived the war. I guess it was going to turn eventually." I told him I love him. He told me he loves me. In his waning hours, he taught me about dignity and grace, and gratitude for God's blessings. One final lesson. |
