Sunday, June 20, 2010
Father's Day
Recently, we have been inundated with a spate of commercials advertising the staple gifts for Father’s Day: ties, tools, colognes, razors, electronics, fishing gear, car care products, etc. Most traditional Father’s Day gifts are practical by nature, especially the überpractical 10-piece ratchet set, GPS, cologne-dispensing tie (sold only in the finest stores in Europe). But Father’s Day isn’t about being practical; it’s about being personal. The day is about recognizing Fathers in personal ways that show love and appreciation for who dad is and what dad does.
21 years ago, I celebrated my first Father’s Day. I was all of 19 years old. For Father’s Day that year, I received my first ulcer. Needless to say, I enjoyed the card more than the gift.
I have two wonderful daughters, Samantha and Dani. They are two of the joys of my life (and I didn’t just put that in because I know they’ll be reading this), along with my dried slug collection and my love of Scandinavian-Asian-Cajun-Russian cuisine.
Over the years, I have received numerous gifts commemorating my role as dad. My earliest Father’s Day gifts and cards were, of course, purchased by my wonderful wife, Liz. Understanding that my daughters, at their very young age, had neither the motor skills needed to sign a charge slip nor the ability to fully appreciate the nuances of the rhyme and cadence of Father’s Day card prose, Liz did all the shopping for my special day. I am ever grateful for this, as when Samantha and Dani were very young, the only experience they had with giving had to be followed up by rigorous cleanings (did I mention that they were very generous?).
As Samantha and Dani got older, and could prove that their messier gift-giving days were over, they assumed responsibility over the whole what-shall-we-do/get-for-dad-this-Father's-Day gift selection process. They have cooked me breakfasts, made me cards, purchased me numerous gifts, and taken me out to movies and meals. They have given me puppets, movies, a harmonica, an MP3 player, and a DVD player. Of all the gifts I have received, some of my favorites were home-made gift certificates. These promissory notes were usually for chores they should have been doing all along but had neglected, for chores they knew I would never ask them to do, or for chores they had no intention of doing (such as assisting me with my slug-collecting or slug-drying endeavors). They say it’s the thought that counts, but if that were so, I’m thinking that the gift certificates would have had dollar amounts and store names on them.
I very much appreciate my daughters. They make me enjoy fatherhood even more than I enjoy writing humorous essays. And I believe that the best gifts they have ever given me are forgiveness for my shortcomings as a father and unconditional love. Practical? Yes. Personal? You bet. And far better than any gift certificate or electronic device or day of collecting slugs for drying.
Here’s looking at you, Samantha and Dani. You two make me very glad to be a dad.
21 years ago, I celebrated my first Father’s Day. I was all of 19 years old. For Father’s Day that year, I received my first ulcer. Needless to say, I enjoyed the card more than the gift.
I have two wonderful daughters, Samantha and Dani. They are two of the joys of my life (and I didn’t just put that in because I know they’ll be reading this), along with my dried slug collection and my love of Scandinavian-Asian-Cajun-Russian cuisine.
Over the years, I have received numerous gifts commemorating my role as dad. My earliest Father’s Day gifts and cards were, of course, purchased by my wonderful wife, Liz. Understanding that my daughters, at their very young age, had neither the motor skills needed to sign a charge slip nor the ability to fully appreciate the nuances of the rhyme and cadence of Father’s Day card prose, Liz did all the shopping for my special day. I am ever grateful for this, as when Samantha and Dani were very young, the only experience they had with giving had to be followed up by rigorous cleanings (did I mention that they were very generous?).
As Samantha and Dani got older, and could prove that their messier gift-giving days were over, they assumed responsibility over the whole what-shall-we-do/get-for-dad-this-Father's-Day gift selection process. They have cooked me breakfasts, made me cards, purchased me numerous gifts, and taken me out to movies and meals. They have given me puppets, movies, a harmonica, an MP3 player, and a DVD player. Of all the gifts I have received, some of my favorites were home-made gift certificates. These promissory notes were usually for chores they should have been doing all along but had neglected, for chores they knew I would never ask them to do, or for chores they had no intention of doing (such as assisting me with my slug-collecting or slug-drying endeavors). They say it’s the thought that counts, but if that were so, I’m thinking that the gift certificates would have had dollar amounts and store names on them.
I very much appreciate my daughters. They make me enjoy fatherhood even more than I enjoy writing humorous essays. And I believe that the best gifts they have ever given me are forgiveness for my shortcomings as a father and unconditional love. Practical? Yes. Personal? You bet. And far better than any gift certificate or electronic device or day of collecting slugs for drying.
Here’s looking at you, Samantha and Dani. You two make me very glad to be a dad.
Labels: dad, daryl, daughters, Day, Father's, gifts, Trowbridge
