My dad... where do I begin!?
I look back now, at the age of 45 and think... "WOW... I REALLY DO HAVE THE BEST DAD (AND MOM) AROUND!" Considering what I know now and what I've seen, they weren't as strict or mean or whatever, that I thought they were.
My dad worked his butt off... so my mom didn't have to. She was able to be home with me and my sister, up until we were in High School. My dad never complained. He put us through private schools our entire life... and just kept working and smiling and spending time with us when he was home. In fact, I remember him spending a lot of time with us.
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We would play tennis together. Something we really enjoyed when I was young. We would water ski together. His best friend had a boat and it was something, as kids, we got to do with just my dad. We had the best time at the lakes.
What I love about my dad (my parents in general) is that they didn't spend money on things to keep up with the Jones'. We had everything we needed, were never without... we even had things we wanted... but they never had to have the nicest cars or the nicest house. My Dad is SATISFIED in life. He is CONTENT. One of the hugest lessons I have learned from him... and hopefully have passed on as well. And, my dad and mom still live in the SAME house they bought when I was born. They live with no house payment in Orange County, CA. Not many can say that!
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He never really "offered" me advice, per say. I would get in trouble (I was the rebellious one) and I remember it was so painful to listen to his 30 minute winded talks... and I would say, "Can you just ground me, like everyone else's parents do?" But, no... I would sit and listen.
What I love about my dad is that he just supported whatever I was doing. He never pushed me to be someone I wasn't. He might not have understood why his oldest daughter loved being a tom boy... and wanted to race cars as her life goal... but he never said no. (He did however, tell me that I couldn't have a motorcycle if I was still living under his roof. So, I just rode others.)
He really let me be me... and I think I turned out pretty darn good because of that!
I didn't get married until age 39. And, when I was single, my dad would move heaven and earth, no matter where he was in life... to help me when I had a flat tire. To bail me out of credit card debt. To bail me out of whatever I got myself into. In fact, one night I was surely going to die... as my stomach was hurting SO bad. I called my parents at 3am to say "goodbye" and my dad said, "You are NOT going to die. You ate too much cabbage, silly!" And, then, in his DR DAD way... he told me the magic thing to do and sure enough... I'm still here to tell about it.
He has worn many hats in his life with me! And, I have to say... I have loved them and hated some! But, DAD... you truly are the BEST! Thank you for never giving up on me... my crazy life... my crazy ways... and being the BEST DAD you could be with no training, whatsoever!
I love you!
