Father's Day
Today is Father's Day - a good day to think about the two most important men in my life. My own dad (of course) and the father of my children.
Norman Evans Thomas is my Dad. I believe he was about 24 years old when I was born and was an airman in the US Air Force. We grew up around his military career, so lived in several interesting places and got to see many others as we traveled. When I was growing up, I knew my Dad to be the most brilliant man in the country and possibly in the world. I knew he'd be president some day because he looked a little like John F. Kennedy. Tall, slender, blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, and funny. He's not so tall anymore - I think about 5'9" or 5'10". That seemed huge to me then. He is still very funny, but his humor has evolved to where he's more like a grumpy George Carlin, only on the Republican side rather than the Liberal side. Maybe a nicer Bill O'Reilly.
When I was sick, I wanted my Daddy. I had a bicycle wreck one time and when I regained consciousness, I cried for two hours until my Daddy would get off work to take me to the hospital. Remember, my Mom was alone with six young children... Dad couldn't take off early because he had a family of 8 to support on his (by that time) Staff Sergeant salary. But he came home and I was fine although I had to drink out of a straw for a week. Another time when I was probably 11 or 12, I ran a high fever and had to go into a room temperature bathtub of water. I didn't want Mom to touch me. I don't understand why I always turned to Dad when I was sick... but he got my temperature down. Maybe it's because of the agreement he and Mom worked out as we were growing up. She handled the poop and he handled the puke.
In any case, I think my Dad taught me my stubborness. He gave me confidence. Love of politics (we discussed current events at dinner). He taught me how to take jokes. Sarcasm. He showed me how to defend myself. Then to pick myself up and move on (after I lost a fight with a bully and ended up with two black eyes). He told me I was smart. He and Mom also taught me that I could do anything I wanted when I grew up. He used to shoot mistletoe out of the trees behind our house. I'd bag it up and sell it to nearby apartment dwellers for 25 cents.
They always say a woman marries a man who is like her husband. I can see some of my Dad in my husband Richard. He is smart. He's stubborn. Sarcastic. Makes me laugh. I must have laughter in my life and he definitely brings joy. Richard and I dated for five months before we got married. We lived together for two weeks before we married (Catholic guilt pushed us into marriage and he isn't even Catholic). But I knew he was the one for me on our first date. We stayed out all night and parked on the dam at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park talking and making out. When I got home, my Dad was gone. He had gone out looking for me (this was before cell phones) because he was worried. I was 26 years old. I should have called, but it didn't occur to me at that age. Richard has been a good father and husband. I wish sometimes that some things would change. But I think he wishes there were things about me that I'd change too. I think I'd like to go out more with him. We had dinner together on Friday night and it was nice. I want more moments like that.
Meanwhile for Father's Day, I salute two men in my life. One gave me life. One brought me life. Both have made my time on Earth precious.
Norman Evans Thomas is my Dad. I believe he was about 24 years old when I was born and was an airman in the US Air Force. We grew up around his military career, so lived in several interesting places and got to see many others as we traveled. When I was growing up, I knew my Dad to be the most brilliant man in the country and possibly in the world. I knew he'd be president some day because he looked a little like John F. Kennedy. Tall, slender, blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, and funny. He's not so tall anymore - I think about 5'9" or 5'10". That seemed huge to me then. He is still very funny, but his humor has evolved to where he's more like a grumpy George Carlin, only on the Republican side rather than the Liberal side. Maybe a nicer Bill O'Reilly.
When I was sick, I wanted my Daddy. I had a bicycle wreck one time and when I regained consciousness, I cried for two hours until my Daddy would get off work to take me to the hospital. Remember, my Mom was alone with six young children... Dad couldn't take off early because he had a family of 8 to support on his (by that time) Staff Sergeant salary. But he came home and I was fine although I had to drink out of a straw for a week. Another time when I was probably 11 or 12, I ran a high fever and had to go into a room temperature bathtub of water. I didn't want Mom to touch me. I don't understand why I always turned to Dad when I was sick... but he got my temperature down. Maybe it's because of the agreement he and Mom worked out as we were growing up. She handled the poop and he handled the puke.
In any case, I think my Dad taught me my stubborness. He gave me confidence. Love of politics (we discussed current events at dinner). He taught me how to take jokes. Sarcasm. He showed me how to defend myself. Then to pick myself up and move on (after I lost a fight with a bully and ended up with two black eyes). He told me I was smart. He and Mom also taught me that I could do anything I wanted when I grew up. He used to shoot mistletoe out of the trees behind our house. I'd bag it up and sell it to nearby apartment dwellers for 25 cents.
They always say a woman marries a man who is like her husband. I can see some of my Dad in my husband Richard. He is smart. He's stubborn. Sarcastic. Makes me laugh. I must have laughter in my life and he definitely brings joy. Richard and I dated for five months before we got married. We lived together for two weeks before we married (Catholic guilt pushed us into marriage and he isn't even Catholic). But I knew he was the one for me on our first date. We stayed out all night and parked on the dam at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park talking and making out. When I got home, my Dad was gone. He had gone out looking for me (this was before cell phones) because he was worried. I was 26 years old. I should have called, but it didn't occur to me at that age. Richard has been a good father and husband. I wish sometimes that some things would change. But I think he wishes there were things about me that I'd change too. I think I'd like to go out more with him. We had dinner together on Friday night and it was nice. I want more moments like that.
Meanwhile for Father's Day, I salute two men in my life. One gave me life. One brought me life. Both have made my time on Earth precious.
posted by Kathy T. at 12:47 PM
3 Comments:
You're soo sweet.
That's a lovely post about the two men in your life.
Very sweet post. It's so nice reading about the good fathers out there.
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