Father’s Day 2019

Dad…traveled coast-to-coast playing trombone in double-breasted suits like this one. I wonder if he had any idea where his future would take him or who he would become. Ah, but he never seemed to sweat it. My siblings and I were barely twinkles in his eye at this time, as I don’t think he had even met my mom, yet. But he stayed the course, finished college, married, joined the Air Force, had me (and two more) went to grad school on the GI Bill and became a music professor, studio musician, artist, photographer, graphic designer, worship leader, husband…father. Never owned a home, never drove a “nice” car, never had money and never worried about it.

OK, he WAS a bit of a perfectionist and didn’t accept anything second rate from amongst ANY of his efforts from any of these areas…and he expected you to do the same. He always had a keen insight for taking just about any creative effort up another notch. Sometimes it drove me nuts, but he was usually right. First efforts always have flaws and weaknesses, but are required steps before you can have the excellence from 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round improvements.

That said…I remember the first time he told me my photos were good…the first time he doubled over laughing at a story I told (he never laughed at my dumb jokes as a kid)…and that time he said there was something good about my writing and I needed to write more. In fact, that was one of the last things I remember him saying to me. Dad, pushed himself hard to do his best, because he knew he was doing it for something much bigger than himself, but I’m pretty sure he never lost hardly any sleep worrying about his efforts. The man could relax anywhere.

Right before he died, my mom said he looked at her, out of the blue, and said, “I’m happy with the way God made me.” That’s probably one of the best mindsets a father—or any of us—can embrace. Sometimes the very things we supposedly lack, are actually pointing us to what makes us truly rich.

Where would I be without him? Sheesh, I wonder…

Happy Father’s Day, Dad…