Happy Father’s Day to all of the dad, dads-to-be, grandfathers, role models, and other guardian-types of the masculine persuasion!
And a very much more specific bucket o’ love to my own cher papa.
There was a change of plans and we went to VO2, a vegan cafe attached to a yoga studio in Cambridge. I know, right?
But it was delicious (I got the North End (minus the olive tapenade)).
And now as I type I’m standing at the kitchen counter next to Dad as he cooks seitan and mushrooms.
I’ve been very lucky to have such a wonderful and supportive dad (and MOM! But it’s Father’s day) and so this post is a quick (and not at all exclusive) counting of my Dad-related blessings.
Dear sweet darling Daddy, thank you for…
- reading with me when I was little, and introducing me to the Lord of the Rings, The Odyssey, and so many other worlds. It’s at least partly thanks to you that my reading has completely outpaced yours. 😉
- all of the home improvement projects! Like renovating the kitchen, putting up the pergola for the grape vines, and building the retaining wall around my garden. I have very fond of memories of painting cabinets with you while listening to Disney songs in the dog days of summer.
- showing me what physical resilience and determination look like, in the amazing ways you have trained for 100 mile foot races, rock climbing, flight training, rowing- and more recently, how you have taken on the world after your leg amputation.
- being so passionate about your projects and interests. It’s one of the qualities I love most from myself, and I’ve been lucky to grow up in a family where that kind of enthusiasm was the norm.
- all of the time you spent with me when I was younger, when, as a teacher, we had the same luxurious vacation schedules.
- foolishly doting on me and agreeing to whatever I want. It’s not good for you and it probably isn’t good for me, but sometimes being told that the world is you oyster is just what you need. And sometimes knowing you can ask for the stars is what I needed to remember that what I really wanted was something much closer.
- crying at every movie. And speech. And sentimental moment (have you started yet?)
- letting me shave your head. Always a good time.
- listening to my fashion advice and buying leather pants. And the cardigan that you never wear but should. Once it isn’t ninety degrees out.
- cooking delicious and nutritional food. You truly have a green thumb. But like, with cooking. And then teaching me how to replicate your beautiful recipes. And helping me write my own.
- your amazing story telling abilities. About any topic- but your time in the Middle East, your albino peacock hallucination, growing up in Chicago, and politics were all favorites. I remember being little in the car and asking you to tell me “about Watergate again”. I grew up with a somewhat unusual set of fairytales and wouldn’t have it any other way.
- appreciating my musical taste and sharing yours with me. Thanks to you, I was listening to The Pogues at ten. Thanks to me, you love Lana del Rey.
- the drives to and from Yale.
- Telling me to shut up when I was 4. If that was the most heartbreaking thing that happened to me as a child (other than Gracie (our beer-drinking cat) passing away) I had it pretty good.
- telling me when I was in 4th grade, “You’re a pretty cool kid.” Still one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me.
And so much more.
Honestly, Dad is a little gem.
Dad, “You’re a pretty cool dude.”
List Mimsy 