Happy Father’s Day, dads. The world is better with you in it. Thank you.
To celebrate, I compiled a few lists to honor the dads in my life. Here are 10 special tidbits about each of them that you may not know.
Jason/Daddy
- You dressed up for each of our children’s births. You wore a green plaid button down shirt that you keep in your closet still today, even though it’s faded and has been worn for miles.
- You are kind of an electronic geek. You like devices and want to know how they work. When you wear your Apple Watch, while listening to your wireless headphones, while playing Mario Kart on the iPad, while turning lights on and off with your phone, while writing an email on your laptop, we call you Inspector Gadget.
- You have baby soft feet but hate when people touch them.
- You are always the center of attention at kid/adult gatherings, because you play the best. Children squeal with delight when you transform into a werewolf at dusk.
- You love barbecue, spoonfuls of peanut butter, and cereal. You also love shrimp and chorizo, and I do not make them enough for you. You do not like onions, mushrooms, or ranch dressing. The last one makes you gag. You adore building fires and love yourself a good s’more.
- You make lists on rectangular papers and fold them into quarters. You have a deep appreciation for good notepads and appropriately weighted paper.
- You jam out to Phil Collins and wear sandals when you mow.
- As a child, you hit a neighbor’s van with a slingshot and had to go apologize. Three days ago, you bought Jameson his first slingshot. Fingers crossed.
- You can fall asleep anywhere, anytime. But, you rarely sleep though the night. You get a lot of list-making done in the wee hours.
- You bring coffee and chocolate milk to me and the kids on weekend mornings, then snuggle in next to us for Saturday Cinema in bed.
We absolutely adore you, Daddy. Mwah, mwah!
Chuck/Dad/Gramps
- You used to leave for work at 4 a.m. Before you left the house, you would always peek your head in to check on me and my brother.
- You tuck your shirt in everyday. Jeans, a button-down shirt, and a belt is “dressing down” for you, after years of wearing a suit.
- You collect headphones and watches.
- You love to read mysteries. Sometimes you will read nonfiction books, particularly about politics or history. You read the whole Harry Potter series for the first time this year so you could discuss it with Harper. Now, you two share the movies together.
- You are a realist with a propensity toward pessimism. But when you talk, we listen. And when you put your hands on our shoulders and stare into our eyes, we feel your love. We feel how deeply you care.
- Harper and Jameson call you Gramps and truly believe that you know everything. 🙂
- Your dad was a chemist and a co-discoverer of the element Promethium. Your mother was a twin who caused trouble in church and around town as a young child. Your parents’ meeting involved radioactive material, after which your dad was dubbed “Hot Lips.” Shortly after, they were married happily for the rest of their lives. You took care of them until they passed away.
- You will not go swimming. Or recreate in general. Recreation for you is a good book and a cigar on the porch.
- You never drink caffeinated coffee.
- You love ice cream, and we love you.
We love you, Grandpa. And appreciate you more than you are told.
Jerry/Dad-in-law/Papa
- You are a dedicated Chevy lover. Never buy a Ford!
- You have owned over fifty cars in your life and currently have a five-car garage, which is meticulously organized and decorated in red and black, your colors.
- You are a Pepsi man, not a Coke man. You also love pop-tarts, steak, and cornbread.
- You despise vegetables. Harper and Jameson have even come up with short rhyming songs to encourage you: “Papa eat your edamame or we’re gonna tell your momm-e.”
- You have nicknames for each of your adult children. They are the same ones you used for them when they were young. When you use them nowadays, there is always a hint of sentiment in your voice. “Hey Bud.” 🙂
- You are a tooth hero. In the last two months, you have pulled out two of Jameson’s baby teeth.
- You say “turkey” in a Papa-esque way. Every Thanksgiving, you say it multiple times until the rest of us are laughing, eye rolling, and finally asking you to quit.
- You have an abnormally large collection of t-shirts
- You teach your children and grandchildren how to work on cars, fix things around the house, fish, and drive.
- There was a time you mistook Sioux Falls for Sioux City. There was also a time when you misjudged the height of a parking garage in Vail. Road trips can be tough. We know.
We love you, Papa. And appreciate you more than you are told.
On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, I always think about how complex these days must feel for many – for those with strained relationships, or those who lost a parent, or those who crave to be a parent but are struggling, for those whose families do not include a mom or a dad …
I know how fortunate I am, that I get to share some endearing quirks about fathers who are involved in my life and in the lives of my children. For me, fathers are woven deeply into the patchwork of my identity.
Happy Father’s Day, Jason, Dad (Chuck), and Jerry. You are loved.
