In Honor of Father's Day...taken from a web site done by summer^breeze for her father - June, 2000

"Bringing up Father"

When I was a boy of 14
my father was so ignorant
I could hardly stand
to have the old man around.

But when I got to be 21,
I was astonished
at how much the old man had learned
in only seven years.
~Mark Twain

"A man's children and his garden both reflect
the amount of weeding done during the growing season."
~ Author Unknown ~

"I cannot think of any need in childhood
as strong as the need for a father's protection."
~ Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Time seems to have a way of passing too quickly, and as each day comes to an end I realize it's one more I haven't spent with you. I know we don’t call; But I know we think about one another It’s hard to keep in touch We both have such busy lives. I miss you, Dad. I like seeing your smile and hearing your laughter. I want that feeling of knowing that I'm with someone who thinks I'm special, and who once gave me a deep sense of warmth and security. I miss hearing about what's going on in your life and being a more active part of it. Even though I'm not a little child anymore, and it may seem as though I don't need you like I once did, a special dad like you isn't something that a child outgrows. In fact, the great memories we share are valued and treasured... we just need to get together more often so that we can make some new ones.

After you read this page, I want you to do something special for me. I want you to close your eyes, just for a quiet moment, and imagine me sitting here with a feeling of happiness and a smile on my face. Because that's how I'm sure to be as I think of you on Father's Day. And maybe if you can see me, and feel me in your heart, then we can erase the miles between us and make this moment a celebration of the love that this daughter feels... for her very precious father.

For All the Times I Never Said, "I Love You, Dad"

So often it may seem as if I have taken you for granted, that I never noticed all that you did for me or the sacrifices you made for my benefit. But I did notice. I may not have said anything at the time, and I am sure that many times I really didn't appreciate you. But now that I have grown up, I realize that everything you did was because you loved me and wanted the best for me. I can see now that doing so much for me meant giving up a lot for yourself. I want to thank you for all that is good in me. You instilled it in me with each hug, scolding, understanding word, punishment, and "I love you." I just wanted to tell you that I am forever grateful, and I love you very much.

FATHERS ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE

Fathers are wonderful people
too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
as often as we should...
For, somehow, Father seems to be
the man who pays the bills,
While mother binds up little hurts
and nurses all our ills...
Father struggles daily
to live up to "his image"
As protector and provider
and "hero of the scrimmage"...
And perhaps that is the reason
we sometimes get the notion
That Fathers are not subject to the thing we call emotion,
But if you look inside Dad's heart,
where no-one else can see,
You'll find he's sentimental
and as "soft" as can be...
But he's so busy everyday
in the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff
to his partner and his wife...
But Father's are just wonderful
in a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
and accolades of praise,
For the only reason Dad aspires
to fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
and to bring them happiness...
And like our heavenly Father,
he's a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on
to be always on our side.

WHAT MAKES A DAD

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it... Dad.

What can you say to someone who has always been one of the most essential parts of your world; someone who took you by the hand when you were little and helped to show the way? What do you say to someone who stood by to help you grow, providing love, strength, and support so you could become the person you are today? What can you say to let him know that he's the best there is, and that you hope you've inherited some of his wisdom and his strength?

What words would you say if you ever got the chance?

Maybe you just say

"I love you, Dad..."

and hope he understands.

A TRIBUTE TO FATHERS

My father when I was age ...

4: My daddy can do anything.
5: My daddy knows a whole lot.
6: My dad is smarter than your dad.
8: My dad doesn't exactly know everything.
10: In the olden days when my dad grew up, things were sure different.
12: Oh, well naturally, Father doesn't know anything about that. He is too old to remember his childhood.
14: Don't pay attention to my father. He is so old-fashioned!
21: Him? My Lord, he's hopelessly out-of-date.
25: Dad knows a little bit about it, but then he should because he has been around so long.
30: Maybe we should ask Dad what he thinks. After all, he's had a lot of experience.
35: I'm not doing a single thing until I talk to Dad.
40: I wonder how Dad would have handled it. He was so wise and had a world of experience.
50: I'd give anything if Dad were here now so I could talk this over with him. Too bad I didn't appreciate how smart he was. I could have learned a lot from him.

REMEMBERING DAD

A soft scratch of whiskers pressed on my face,
Bear-hugging squeezes
A rough gentle grace.
Running and racing, letting me win,
Falling asleep
My cheek on his chin.
The strong smell of work, of tools and of sweat,
Of dust and of rust
I'll never forget.
After-shave lotion, paint cans and pails,
Tie clips and cufflinks,
Galvanized nails.
Basements and attics, out-of-date ties,
Oceans and rivers
Fished at sunrise.
Whiskers grew grayer, yet scratched just the same,
And wrinkles were etched
On a more fragile frame.
Oh, how I long for that rough-whiskered kiss,
That sweet scratch of love
So dearly I miss.