To the Men in My Life

It is a beautiful Sunday in the Midwest!  The sun is shining, the sky is a bright blue, and the grass has finally turned green.  It is a little cool (around 60 in the shade) so I am sure my mother is freezing.  As I am sitting outside watching my dog sun bath, I posted the Happy Father's day message to my dad on Facebook.  However, sometimes I feel as if more needs to be said.  Perhaps it is the middle-aged syndrome I have been facing lately, my sentimental side beginning to be exposed, but I feel sometimes a father's role in his daughter's life can be overlooked by a simple wedding dance.  The hallmark commercials all seem to focus on this one event between a dad and little girl, or perhaps it is that scene where she heads off to college.  But, there really is so much more.

My dad taught me how to squish jello and whip cream through my teeth, much to the dismay of my mother.  He taught me how to grab a fish so it wouldn't flop around the boat or be lost back into the water.  He taught me how to play horse in the drive way, and the day I told him I wanted to be a cheerleader, I am sure I broke his heart.  My mother attempted to raise three girls, by dad raised us to be tom boys.   There were times of anger and times of tears, like the time I made him so angry he was down in his basement workshop for an hour, only to produce a wood paddle with holes in it.  Let's just say that paddle hung on the wall as a very basic reminder to us:)  My father played an important role in who I am today and I am reminded of this everyday.

My Grandpa Eichorn (Dad's dad) taught me how to shoot a bow.  To this day, I remember thinking shaking your arms was how you got a bulls eye (he unfortunately suffered from Parkinson's).  He gave me cheese on my birthday wrapped in foil, so I wouldn't eat his.  He protected me from the roosters in his barn yard and showed me how to dig up potatoes in the garden.  And he also explained that the only way to enjoy the ball game was with the radio on and bag of peanuts at your side.  He always smelled like chewing tobacco and had a pipe by his side.

My Grandpa Melow (Mom's dad) passed away before I had the opportunity to meet him.  The pictures I see and and the stories I am told create an image in my mind, but I would have loved to have known him.

Finally, my husband, though not a father yet, shows the patience of one.  He has been there to support me through my tough times and laugh with me through the good.  He has taught me how to drive a tractor, how to focus on my dreams, and provides me with great advice on life's decisions.  We will grow old together, enjoying the sunset from our gazebo, and reminiscing about the time we first met.

To the men in my life I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I wish I could make copies of you and share you with the my children at work, who will not receive the same support and love I have over the years.