To My Departed Dad

My dad was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening, and he made me a part of those hobbies.

We both grew up in Maine, he with his dad, and me with mine.

That meant we could and did have a garden, but took time for hunting in the fall, fly fishing for trout, trolling for togue and land-locked salmon, ice fishing for pickerel and anything that would give us game fish for the table. We even went deep sea fishing on occasion.

In the process, we both took pride in each other's accomplishments and the pride spilled over to other things as well: scholastics, sports, raising chickens, his profession of engineering, and things guys talk about.

My dad died at 92 years of age. I used to think I looked most like my Mom in facial structure, but now I more and more often see my dad, when I look in the mirror shaving and washing up.

For sons who don't recall having a dad, or do recall having a poor one, I wish I could write something that would make having a real dad real for them. Their imagination will have to do, and that is a long life of imagining the "might have beens."

All dads fail at some things along their path of parenting. It's not a steady, bump-free ride, especially with sons. Sometimes there is just too much testosterone in the air, but good dads and obedient sons learn to compensate for that.

Just imagine though, for a number of years we had three "cocks on the walk", for my maternal grandfather lived with us, too, and it was a delight to watch how they both managed their pride enough to be competitive without constantly stepping on each other's toes.

While they had different styles, they respected and loved each other, and as I grew and matured, they respected and loved me, too.

Someone has said that we choose our parents for what we need to learn and experience; that they are part of the testing, training, and trials we learn and grow from.

I'm thankful that I had a real dad, a great mom, and the tests, training, and trials that helped prepare me for my life in this challenging world.

Thanks mom and dad. I'll be calling you tonight, mom, and I'll be thanking and remembering you in prayer, dad.

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© 2012 Demas W. Jasper All rights reserved.