Friday Fives

1. In your opinion, what characteristics make a good father? Also, what traits make a good grandfather?
Patience and realistic expectations. Dads who expect their son to be the football star or relive their youth vicariously through their kids are kind of lame and overbearing.

2. Do you have any special plans for this Father’s Day weekend?
Not really. Probably just a quick call home to the Ranch to wish Jim well.

3. Who’s your favorite “television dad”?
Andy Griffith, followed by Dick Van Dyke.

4. What’s the most important thing that your father ever told you?
Career advice Do what you want to do and love, make sure you are happy and whatever you do, don’t go to work for the Post Office. I probably could, and in fact have on this blog already, lapse into long essays on GW, but not today. Although he was in my dream last night. He was getting the dandelions out of the front yard while mom and Jim packed up the motorhome to go to the ranch. There was so much going on in that specific dream that I could keep a therapist busy for years.

5. Is your father difficult to buy Father’s Day gifts for? Why/why not? What types of things does he like?
He used to be. We always got him a tie, since he wore one to work everyday and really enjoyed the ones we got him. For my stepfather, a gift card to Home Depot is still the best thing ever. They will never be done building the house.

5 Replies to “Friday Fives”

  1. 1. To me, fatherhood requires a certain amount of life experience, bravery and self-confidence to fulfill the role of Dad. Dad’s have to be right most of the time, and have to imbue their offspring with a sense of self. That’s a tricky job, and you either have to be brave, stupid or naïve to take it on.

    2. No.

    3. Chairman Kaga.

    4. Something along the lines of, “You don’t have to make me proud, you just have to make you proud.” Accordingly, I’m not one of those sniveling imps who live their lives in search of their father’s approval (e.g., my brother).

  2. 5. My dad is insane. He lives on his own planet, and only visits ours for meals, and to attend to the occasional crisis. Accordingly, he’s very hard to shop for. He enjoys fishing, gardening, winemaking, charring things on the grill, and shoddy home repairs, but sadly he already has all of the equipment required for each of these passions. This year I sent him a box of Omaha steaks. And I’m certain they’ll go into the freezer until I come for my next visit. “We wanted you to be here when we had them,” he’ll say. To which I’ll say, “It’s a box of fucking meat. Eat it old man!” We have such fun together.

  3. !) Guidance is what my father shares best in addition to lecturing, which I had a tendancy of tuning out until he sneezed his face into his lap one night. After that, I paid closer attention & tried not to do ‘shrooms whilst in my parents’ company.

    2) My parental units are out of town in their motor home at the Sand Dunes with their third set of teenagers so, I’m off the hook this weekend. I will call Dot & wish him a very merry Father’s Day on Sunday, however.

    #) Hmmmm… I can’t currently think of a TV dad who did a good job or helped shape my life since I was raised by the television more than anything or anyone.

    $) Dot once told me that I didn’t have to do what he said but, he could make me wish I had. In his booming voice, that’s very powerful & I still think of it. I also now use it on the cats though it doesn’t seem to work as well.

    %) My father is difficult to buy for so I tend to do research on new recordings of his favorite composers & then purchase said music. This works two fold as classical music drives my mother nuts so, it’s all his. He also likes older films so, that can come in handy when there’s no new hit Liszt recording.

  4. 1. Understanding and encouraging, not afraid to demonstrate affection and unconditional love.. an example to which sons aspire and daughters are drawn. Anything else results in “Daddy Issues”. Grandpas are required to carry pockets full of change and candy, not make you bathe as a kid when you visit for the weekend and go to bat for you when your parents ground you “for no reason”.
    2. No plans other than to call Dear Old Dad and wish him a happy happy.
    3. Cliff Huxtable was tough to beat.
    4. “Love what you do for a job and you’ll never work a day in your life”.
    5. He’s really tough to buy for. This year I got him the 8-in-1 Kameleon remote control and he seems to love it. Gadgets are almost always a sure-fire hit.

  5. 1. Trust, honesty, compassion, support, love, attention. The same things that make a good person I guess.
    2. NOpe, rest, rest, rest.
    3. Captian Kirk
    4. “i’m sorry.”
    5. He is very difficult to buy for, but luckily he likes to drink so that covers all holidays!

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