In this, my
66th trip around the sun, I took time this Father’s Day to reflect a
little. I thought back to my own father and how badly I missed him. I
remembered how many times he gave to others, although we hardly had anything of
our own. That was just his nature. He put others first, helping whenever
someone needed it. He didn’t wait to be asked, because back then you didn’t ask
for help; people then were too proud, too independent. But, somehow, he knew!
And he did what needed to be done.
And back
then, people actually respected the police for what they did. That sounds
strange in the present day, because the media insists on showing all the bad things
to do with the police, and never share the good ones. Show when an officer has
to use the force necessary to subdue a miscreant? Sure!! Share when an officer
saves a person from a burning car? Or goes into a burning building to save a
child?? Post video of one playing with neighborhood kids or giving a homeless
person money for a meal??? Of course not!!!!!
Anyway, he
was my idea of a great man; an all-around great guy. He could be as tough as
nails, sweet as pie and as funny as any comedian. He was a consummate practical
joker, and his favorite targets were his fellow officers. But, friends and
family were definitely not immune. I thought a lot about some of those officers
today also, thanks to friends on Facebook. Bob Edmunds, Paul Jacobsen, Rollie
Woodruff, Roger LaPage. I knew most of the officers on the force back then, and
they knew me.
In my
childhood I used to walk the 3 miles downtown to go to a movie in order to save
the 10-cent bus ride and do the same on the return trip. I can’t recall how
many times I was going to or from a movie when a patrol car would pull up and one
of the officers would yell at me, asking if I wanted a ride home. I bet there
are 147 rules against such conduct now. But, that was a kinder, gentler time
and my father was a kind, gentle man who could rise to any occasion the job put
in front of him.
These
reminiscences brought to mind my own job as a father. My boys both called and
wished me happy Father’s Day of course. My youngest son had his wife and
daughters in the vehicle and they all yelled to let me know they wished me well.
Shortly after that, my other daughter-in-law called to let me know she was
dropping off a banana cream pie; my FAVORITE!!! The youngest brought supper
over so we could spend time together. Later that afternoon my oldest boy child called,
wishing me happy Father’s Day, and telling me thank you for all I’d done. Odd
but I don’t recall doing much for either of my sons, or their families. Linda
and I have helped them both from time to time of course, with whatever they
needed. But, isn’t that what parents are for? Or am I living in the past and
going by old-fashioned morals? Those morals have held me in good stead for 66 years,
and I have no intention of changing now. I learned those at my father’s side
and I trust that they are good today and forever.
Speaking of
sons, those 2 big galoots of mine seem to have learned a thing or 3 from me. At
least from time to time. Are they perfect? Hell no!!! Would I want them to be?
Hell no!!! Do they do things that drive me berserk? Hell YES!!! Am I pleased
with the men they’ve grown to be? You’d better believe it.
I think it’s
only human nature to wonder if we are the people that we really want to be. We
want to be better than our parents, whether or not that’s possible; and I’m not
100 percent positive that is possible in my case. We want to be better husbands
or wives, better parents, better people period. It’s only human nature! But,
since we are human, we probably can’t succeed; and I can live with that.
To my
father, your father, my sons, your sons and every other father in the world,
Happy Father’s Day.
