June 20, 2010

things my father taught me

 
1.     always carry a pocket knife.  there are envelopes and boxes to be opened, sticks to whittle and many other uses.  i carry my dad's.
2.     going along with #1 - always sure your knives are sharp.  dull knives are dangerous.
3.     home cooked always tastes better than going to to eat.  always.
4.     pancake saturdays (or sundays) are made for fun and memories.  i will never ever forget that my dad would stand there making pancakes until everyone was stuffed to the gills.
5.     peeled apples with a bit of salt make a wonderful snack.  (he could peel an apple in one long strand of peel with his pocketknife)
6.     how to change a tire and where the water and oil go in my car.  even the part about putting the lug nuts back on in a star pattern (if you have five.)
7.     the ability to laugh at myself.  he would do that often - laugh at himself.  plus he had this silly made up language for different things...like doughnuts were called "doorknobs", pancakes were "pam-m-cakes", bananas were "bingbongs".  we laughed a lot.
8.     saying "i love you" was always a good thing - both mom and dad taught me this really.  i love you was said often in our house.
9.     how to hold my temper.  my dad had a terrible temper at times...well, sometimes a lot time but he got more mellow as he was older.  as a result, i learned to be more patient and not to fly off the handle - sort of that reverse thing...but i still attribute this lesson to him.
10.   the best way to approach a problem was head on - my dad didn't tiptoe around something - he did it and asked for apologies later.  sometimes that worked out well and sometimes it didn't.
11.   to mind my own business - he was not a gossip and he was a private man.  he always figured if people wanted him to know something, they would tell him.
12.  to always keep at least a week of vacation and a week of sick leave.  you never know when you may have an emergency or the need to have a break.
13.   never ask someone else to do something you wouldn't do yourself.  it's a matter of respect.
14.   how to appreciate a good piece of science fiction - he loved star trek and i have seen each of the movies and think of him every time.  he also loved james bond and anything with clint eastwood.
15.  never make promises that you couldn't keep - back up your word - your word is your reputation.  if you said something, you better mean it.  he didn't hold with liars, cheats or cowards.

29 comments:

  1. What a smart and wise man he was Char. Mind your own business...yes!

    OK #1 LOL...cuz you never know when you may have some free time and a fresh twig to whittle. ;)

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  2. In Spain the Father's day is in March, but happy father's day to all of them! :)

    Love!
    xxx

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  3. what a great looking dad photo ..and oh your wonderful list..such an important one!!

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  4. It sounds like your Dad taught you life's most important lessons. That's the mark of a good father. How lucky you are!

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  5. A wonderful tribute to your Dad. Life lessons are so important!

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  6. You just drew an amazing character sketch--an insightful, well-rounded, lovely view of your father.

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  7. Oh, this is fantastic ... what a smart man your father was :o)

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  8. this is so sweet.....and i have a little pocket knife on my key chain...i wonder if my dad taught me that and i forgot.....

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  9. It must be great to have someone you love being your life teacher. Those tips made me want to know more about him.

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  10. What a handsome father, Char. And sage advice. All of it.
    My husband carries a pocket knife with him always. He once saved a horse's life with a pocket knife. He was transporting a horse to a show and pulled over because he had a feeling. And the horse was strangling on the strung hayrack which he cut from its neck.

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  11. What a great tribute to your Dad. I loved the part about always carrying a pocket knife. My Dad ALWAYS had one on him. A red Swiss Army Knife. I used to carry it with me after he passed away years ago. Never did use it while I was out anywhere. But you can't carry knives around with you anymore, especially not at an airport. Like I said that was a long, long time ago. I still have it in my drawer and whenever I bring it out I smile and shed a few tears. Miss him alot. Thank you for that memory. May your memories stay vibrant and sweet in your heart.

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  12. Your dad sounds great. Thanks for sharing these words of wisdom. :)

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  13. Char this is a wonderful tribute to your Dad, he sounds like he was a wonderful man. I need to make a list, I like that idea. Hope you manged a lovely day, take care, c

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  14. ohhhhhhhh...i looooved this list.

    this was fantastic,
    i just might have to borrow the idea...

    :O)

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  15. Your love for your dad really shines through in the lessons you learned from him. He would be very proud that you learned them so well. XOXO

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  16. Trust me, going out to eat tastes much better than my cooking.

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  17. Beautiful! I love this!

    xo Mary Jo

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  18. Beautiful sweet memories! And good lessons to be taught. It's an honor to have good thoughts, lessons, and memories of a person who was an inspiration in our lives. You have been blessed.

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  19. Oh, I love this list. And, oh, I think your Dad and my husband were cut from the same cloth. We've been married 18 years and he is still nagging me about carrying a pocket knife.

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  20. This is such a beautiful tribute to your father Char...It really got me thinking about what I learned from my father too...some things you don't realize are important lessons until you are older...

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  21. what a great dad you had! and how nice your house was full of "i love you's"

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  22. SO touching Char...brought tears to my eyes.
    Hope you're well...sorry I have been bad at passing by...
    I am now going through old posts of yours.
    HUGS
    Char

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  23. what a sweet post. your daddy taught you some good life lessons. my dad taught me to carry a pocket knife too.

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  24. This is nice. When I read #9 I thought of my own father. He's very fiery and passionate about things sometimes. I think his fire just might have made me more calm. Or maybe I was just born this way. I guess you never really know...

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  25. My oh My some of those traits I can see in my husband, I hope the girls are watching!!!

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  26. What a beautiful post! Your dad sounds like a wise and wonderful man. A few of those lessons reminded me of my own father... :)

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  27. Gosh, this really really brought such a tear to my eye. Your father was a wise man, a funny man and a handsome man. A keeper.

    You must print this post out, and keep it in a book you look at often. Then you'll always have your memories of him close at hand. it's beautifully written.

    What a credit you are to him xx

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i feel as if each comment was between us as we sat and sipped something warm....i love to hear what you're thinking.