Happy Father's Day, Dad

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!
Lydia M. Child (1802–80), abolitionist, writer

Dear Dad:

Happy Father’s Day. I decided to write an open letter to you to let you know how loved and appreciated you are by me, and many others including my siblings, but this is my letter and my blog, so I will use it for my letter to you.

I find it rather interesting that the older I get the smarter you have become. All the many virtues such as your unselfishness and tenacious attitude have been passed down and carried on. I see a few of your qualities in me, and I recognize many in Daughter too. So, while time takes its unrelenting toll on all of us, it does not diminish your standing in my eyes.

You taught me much through your hard work and by the simple eloquence of your example. Your tireless and most impressive, your uncomplaining (a trait that neither Daughter nor I possess) efforts over the years to provide for us all. The years of toiling outside carrying heavy loads, waking at the crack of dawn have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.

One of my proudest memories is of you coming home night after night from a full day of the hard labor of sheet metal work to see you at the dinner table each evening working with mom to transcribe your notes and compile your final notebook for the sheriff’s academy, which you aced with a perfect score. You did this for the love of it, not for any financial gain. Once you retired from your day job and public service, you moved on to plying your trade for the space program. Impressive indeed.

Like a championship team where the individual efforts work together to bring about the best; you and mom have succeeded. Thank you.

Love,
Your son