So, on this the day where we celebrate Dad, I reflect on the things that my dad taught me.
1) Helping your daughter with Algebra is not an easy thing. Growing up, I did not necessarily think that my dad was super great with helping me with homework. Sometimes things got, well, tense. This year, though, I had the privelage of helping my daughter with her algebra. Within 5 minutes of "helping" her, I realized that my dad was, in fact, a saint. The fact that I made it through the Algebra sessions in tact prove that. I had to turn those duties over to Rob.
2) If you don't ask for what you want you have a 0% chance of getting it. If you ask for what you want, you have at least a 50% chance of getting it. Simply asking improves the odds greatly. I use this all of the time. Great, great advice. I'm sure my dad wouldn't mind if you felt free to borrow it too! :)
3) I have a tendancy to shoot my mouth off. I think I got that from my dad. I remember him telling me a story of when he got pulled over for speeding telling the cop that since he was speeding, he was obviously in a hurry, so could he please get on with it. Is it any wonder then, that I once got several detentions for telling a nun that a striped shirt was really a solid colored shirt. *Points at one stripe* "This is a solid color" *Points at 2nd stripe* "And this is a solid color". The good news is, my dad is getting better at holding his tongue. Like when I told him I was pregnant with Hayleigh...he just walked calmly out to the mailbox. See, there's hope for me yet!
4) Speaking of hope, my dad has taught me that it is never too late to get in shape. He didn't really begin running and being in shape until his 40s. So, when I lug my overweight body to the gym to work out and I say no to the food I really want, I think of my dad. If he can break the cycle in his 40s, so can I.
5) Life is short. Have fun. My dad is the kind of guy who runs a marathon for his 60th birthday, buys a Harley when he's 62 and buys my mom a BMW convertible....just because. He's the kind of guy that has fun dancing to Salsa music in the Dominican Republic or drinking a beer at the Hofbrau. He pretty much is the life of the party. Why would anyone want to spend this short life we have being miserable anyways?
That's just a few. There are many, many more. So, thanks for everything Dad! I lvoe you <3
