On Dads: Happy Father's Day

It's that time again, to celebrate the dude who brought you up to be a man. Father's Day.  A true legend in their own right, fathers can be the angel without wings or the stern foot of reason depending on the situation. There's no doubt about it though, Dads are cool. 
Being a father has made me appreciate that fact all the more. There is no time to be tired and lounge when there are kids around. Adventure is to be had, everywhere, everyday! 
My Father, Lynn, spent a great deal of time making sure we were adventure filled. From skiing, to hiking, to fishing, to riding in the back of the truck high-fiving tree branches we never got bored. 
He deemed himself an ambassador of knowledge as well- encouraging me and insisting I learn techniques and tricks about life (flat tire, oil changes, how to fix our sprinkler pump, the finer art or unclogging a toilet, how to tie a fishing hook on... you get the point) so that if, "Ever died, I would know how to do this stuff." This was way before YouTube where knowledge acquisition actually took time and effort. Gruesome but realistic I suppose. For me, and the rest of my life benefit he never did die and is still well and good riding his bike. 
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Now, as a dad, I strive to be a lot like my Dad in the energy and effort put in. I want my kids to know how to do things, understand how life works, and get out on adventures! In a lot of ways I am like my Dad. A concept that initially I wasn't so keen on (I am my own person after all!!) but have settled in on and appreciate now more than ever. I'm totally cool, even lucky, if I'm like my dad. He raised some pretty awesome kids if I do say so myself (Yes, I did just call myself awesome. My brother too, but let's keep the focus on moi for now). And let's not forget the Mom who helped too! Dad wasn't solo in this operation, but since it is Father's Day, he does get a bit more Focus. 
Hi Mom!
Here's a list of top 5 things my Dad Does That Will Define Him and He doesn't know it (and we love him for it!)

1. The Bird of Paradise Will Eventually Fly Up Your Nose
   
   1. Lynn always says: "May the bird of paradise fly up your nose." To this day, I'm unsure of it's meaning, but I do know he means it. 
2. ​Girls are Like Ice Cream
   
   1. ​Another Catch Phrase. You will hear this as a background jingle in pretty much anything Lynn does from grilling to mowing the grass. 
      
3. ​You will always know Lynn is in a store because he whistles as he enters. 
   
   1. ​Without fail. The Local CO-OP, the Gym, etc- a brief 2-3 second ditty clearly marks that Lynn has entered that space. If I could put in text form exactly how it sounds, I would. The same ditty for all 33 years (as of this post) of my existence - and likely more prior to my amazing arrival. 
      
4. ​He is a fantastic Napper. 
   
   1. ​I've never seen anyone so skilled in my entire life at the art of napping. Given a lull in action my father can rack out in an instant. Even more impressive, he can pop back up and be ready for more action just as quickly. Me, I'm a slug for hours after an attempted nap, but my father, A Nap Artist, shows me what true napping power is. 
      
5. ​For all intents and puposes, many of my friends think my Father's Name is Lynard. 
   
   1. ​This came about as I struggled to get the attention I craved from my parents and the typical "Mom, Dad" weren't cutting it. So I reverted to an even greater power. Their names. For Mom, a Single "Deb, Debbie, Deborah" got her attention like magic where a thousand "Moms" never could.  My Father was no exception - Lynard just came out one day and Transformed my ability to cue my parents attention and their titles forever more. To this day I still address my Parents as Debbie and Lynard (just recently a close friend of min disclosed that they didn't know his real name was Lynn, not Lynard.) My work here is done.
      
6. BONUS MATERIAL: There is always money in the banana stand.
   

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So what do you remember about growing up with your Dad?

​Happy Father's Day to all the awesome Dad's out there. Thanks for doing what you do, thanks for being there, and thank you for shining the light for the next great generation of Dads. You're doing great!

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