A Father’s Day Tribute
The following narrative is one I had posted a few years back on social media honoring our dad’s on Father’s Day.
At first glance, we were very different. Dad stood 6 feet tall and was a jock. I stand about 6 inches shorter and like math. We saw the same world but through a different window. Dad told me he’d give me $500 if I would listen to Rush Limbaugh Radio for six weeks. I told Dad I would give him $500 if he didn’t listen to Rush Limbaugh Radio for six weeks.
One day, as I was engrossed in my calculus homework spread across the dining table, Dad approached me with a baffled look on his face and said, “Are you really my son?” Glancing up from the complex equations, mirroring his puzzled expression, I replied, “Are you really my father?”
As I got older, I stepped back, looked a little deeper, and saw a strong and generous man who was bigger than life. He loved his family and taught me plenty by how he lived. He was a tireless worker carrying three jobs when I was just a boy; he showed me that true strength lies in the resolve to protect and provide for your loved ones, no matter the cost. He was my unspoken guide, illustrating that the richest teachings don't come from words but from the echoes of a life lived with an unwavering commitment to those you hold dear. They say that when a father gives to his son, both laugh, and when a son gives to his father, both cry. That makes sense to me.
We were different but the same. Sometimes, when I glance in the mirror, I feel like I'm looking through a time portal, where my reflection mingles with Dad's. We loved each other very much. We had each other’s back. That is all that mattered. I miss Dad and how different we were. It makes me smile and cry. A tangle of emotions that is profound yet elusive.
Love your Dad and let him know it. Even if you feel different, you might find you're more alike than you think.