June 23, 2008

• Learning for Life

  Lessons my Father taught me:

   

  

   

   

  To always think for myself.

   

  

   

  To never surrender your queen.

   

  That a husband protects his wife – also known as “Never make your mother cry”.

   

  

   

  That getting up at 5:30 means you get to watch the sunrise before you start your run.

   

  

   

   That sunrises are beautiful and peaceful

   

  How to count to determine how far away the lightening is.

   

  That to swim you have to get your face wet. To do a back flip you have to tuck. And if you put your face down, and keep your feet together you’ll have a beautiful dive.

   

  

   

  That math is not as hard as you think. That math tricks can be fun and amusing. Like multiplying by 9s.

   

  That the only thing you have to do is pay taxes and die, and not necessarily in that order.

   

  A job worth doing is worth doing right. Even if pride in a job well done is the only reward.

   

  

   

  That respect is earned, not given. Your elders have earned it, give it to them.

   

  That working at a job you hate, with people you don’t like is miserable. If that is what you have to do, you do it and you don’t complain.

   

  

   

  Measure twice, cut once.

   

   That sugar makes a terrible substitute for flour, and bread won’t rise that way.

   

  That John Wayne was the greatest cowboy that ever lived.

   

  That driving well means watching what others are doing as well as yourself.

   

  

   

  That getting a tax return means that the government had your money for the past year, and they made money off it and you didn’t.

   

  To always call your shot.

   

  That I can do anything I set my mind to.

   

  

   

  That college is important to achieve your dreams.

  That you’re never too old for a spanking.

   

  That cars, pools and pets require regular maintenance.

   

  

   

  To talk softly and carry a big stick.

   

  That if someone is bullying you, talk to them, if that doesn’t work, get out your stick.

   

  That sometimes, a fight is necessary – be prepared and don’t expect that you won’t ever get your a## whooped.

   

  Fight for what you want. Always.

   

  

   

  Can’t never could do anything.

   

  Christmas lights are a total pain in the butt, but they are a necessary part of the season.

   

  Potato salad should always be made with mustard.

   

  Green chili tastes better on homemade sourdough toast.

   

  

   

  If you said you would do something, do it.

  That you have to be a citizen — exercise your rights and if you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to complain.

   

  That actions are louder than words.

   

  

   

  Fish are more fun to catch than to eat.

   

  To not read the little words.

   

  

   

  That reading is like breathing, vital.

   

  Support your hand, keep your eyes on your target, and squeeze don’t pull.

   

  That writing is an art, if you master it your life will be a little easier.

   

  That the best seat in the house during a thunderstorm is the back porch.

   

  

   

  That hiking is not a spectators activity.

   

  That no matter what the odds, never – ever give up.

   

  

   

  And most importantly of all, my dad taught me to always live life to the fullest, cause you never know when your time will be up.

   

  

   

  I love my dad, we’re very close. always have been. We’ve always just clicked. We spent many evenings playing chess, talking about books or “arguing” politics and world events. My dad is one of the smartest men I know. He has his faults, many stemming from his upbringing – such as being prejudiced about some lifestyles or people, and just being down right stubborn at times. He’s sometimes drank too much, too often, and has a tendency to be short-tempered and impatient, especially with younger kids. On the other hand he’s funny, and smart as heck. He’s fiercely protective of my mom, and us kids for that matter, throw in his grand-kids too. He has tried many things in his life, fought off cancer twice, is an excellent judge of character, voracious reader (usually has three or four books going at a time), and is still chopping wood, hiking miles and miles at a time, and riding his scooter around town. He’s 73 this year. He jumped right in on computers and Internet, and is now badgering my mom to get high speed Internet so he can do more online. He can fix just about anything, and does beautiful wood work. He’s a pretty amazing guy my dad. The lessons he has for me, I’m still learning and I hope to go on doing so for sometime to come.

   

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  For other life lessons, please stop by featured_grownups and check out the other great entries!

   

  Question of the day: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned?

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