Today my dad turned 81. So we had soup, biscuits and watched the 49er game with friends. It was a cold day with ice cycles hanging from the eves and the snow crusting on the top layer while we sat in a balmy living room. Dad has always had the ability to "slump the sheetrock" while burning a "pinocle stick". You'd have to go far and wide to find a man who has enjoyed the outdoor activity of cutting wood any greater than my dad. Therapy. That's what I used to call it.
When I was in high school I was fortunate to have a job as dad's assistant. I "packed rod" for him, ran numbers and I'm pretty sure I made his sandwiches in the morning before we left for work. I found out that summer that mustard isn't something he enjoyed or even liked. There's not a whole lot my dad doesn't like and we all cringed when we had chicken legs because he would always tell us to "clean that up". "But dad" we'd argue "that's grissle". Always fell to deaf ears.
Dad has had many jobs and careers in his lifetime. Sheep herder, wood cutter, hay cutter, baler, hauler, milker, cow raiser, Federal Government, self employed courier to name a few. We all think that Papa should slow down, sit in his easy chair more often but he seems to have other ideas.
Some of the things my boys learned from their Papa are:
- shut the door quickly
- don't smack your food
- loud noises must be muffled quickly, followed by a "sorry" and slight cringe
- wear light weight clothing when visiting in the winter time
- Papa burps very loudly when drinking RC cola
- he'll teach you how to build a fence, start a fire or stack wood if you are interested
- he loves the SF Giants and 49ers and prays for them
- he loves Jesus
- he's one of the busiest guys you'll ever meet
- most of the time the hanky in his back pocket is clean
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