Father's Day Memories

As I am sure you are all aware, yesterday was Father's Day. I have a dear friend who considers this a "Hallmark Holiday" and I suppose that in many ways it is. I will admit that I went through the motions and sent a card to my step-dad.

I spent Father's Day with Little One, and it was largely a day of leisure and fairly uneventful. Friday night I took her to meet a friend at the movie theater. After getting the tickets and laying out some ground rules, they were off, giggling and talking about cute boys, outfits, and doing whatever 12 year old girls do at the movies. Saturday we bummed around and then she went ice skating with this same girl friend. Afterward we went to Johnny Rockets for burgers and milkshakes with Finicky and his two kids.

Sunday Little One and I slept in, and then we met Finicky and his kids again, this time for doughnuts at the Krispy Kreme. I haven't had a doughnut in months, and I remember why. First, I am trying to eat better, but also after the second doughnut the sugar really churns in my stomach. And, frankly, two doughnuts just aren't that filling.

I hope Little One had a good day. She was generally sweet and kind to me. It made me think back to Father's Days spent with my old man. I would often buy him fishing tackle of some sort as a present. Either a cool lure, or some hooks, weights, bobbers, etc. And inevitably I would ask to borrow whatever it was I "gave" him. In later years, when I was working and had some money to spend, the gifts became real gifts and were certainly more thoughtful.

Generally I bought him books, but occasionally I would buy him a gun, or some sort of useful item or some sort of antique that I knew he would admire but never buy for himself. When he passed and we cleaned out his home I remember finding these things that he had saved for so many years. My sister had a similar experience, too. I kept some of the books that she had given him for Father's days or other occasions, and she found some that I had given him that she kept.

I keep a box in my closet of various things that remind me of my Little One. Stubs from movies that we saw together, football games or other events we attended. Report cards, pictures, a few school crafts, and other little things that bring me fond memories. Maybe one day when I am no more she will clean out my closet and find the box, and it will remind her of times we spent together.