So often in these modern times we hear about absentee dads or MIA fathers who are with their families and supporting them but not emotionally present. On the reverse side, there are fathers who give their all to their families and many who raise their children alone. In a time of Monster Moms and Deadbeat Dads it’s good to know there are dedicated and devoted fathers doing their best to raise responsible and loving human beings. There are also those fathers who are in the military fighting in wars that never seem to end who haven’t seen their children for years and some who may never see them.
On Father’s Day, we celebrate those men who fathered the next generation and, whether they are good, bad or spectacular dads, we all hope within our hearts that they teach something of value to their children that will carry on through the ages.
The things I learned and still treasure from my dad were small things in comparison to world peace and the end of disease but they were great things to me. Pop was a meteorologist. I went with him to the airport where he worked in his windowed office just above the landing field. The sound of teletypes humming in the background and the noise of planes landing out on the runway blended into an orchestra of comfort. As far as I could tell, he spent most of his time drawing maps with weird lines on them and symbols. He called them fronts. He taught me about how high and low pressure areas work like molasses pouring onto the Earth from the upper atmosphere as if the Earth were a big pancake. I learned all about clouds, the different kinds and which ones will rain and those that won’t. I learned about the stars from Pop and how their positions changed as the Earth rotated and seasons changed.
Pop took my middle sister and I on sacred walks into the woods. He taught us to respect nature and all living creatures. I wish I had paid more attention to the poison ivy talk. Although my dad wasn’t much on religion, he did honor the Earth and all its living things. From his childhood and into his elder years he banned birds and kept records about them for the Fish and Wildlife Service. My cat sometimes interfered with that process by hanging out at the bird trap and taking advantage of the vulnerable birds there but Pop forgave her indiscretions because he knew she was just doing her cat job.
Wherever your spirit resides in this present moment, Pop, I want you to know I’m thinking about you and that I thank you for always being there and teaching me lessons I will never forget.
