This Father's Day

For those of you that regularly follow my blog, you read here that my dad was supposed to be gone the whole summer on 100+ day engineering job on a ship making multiple round-trips from California to China. About two weeks ago, I checked my email one last time before heading to bed and found a very brief email from my dad saying that he had fainted and fallen down in the engine room and was out for five minutes. He wrote that he had been relieved of his duties and would have to get off the ship when it returned to California approximately 12 or so days later. The news was even more shocking having come a few days after my dad's closest friend divulged to my mother that my dad has a clogged artery he hadn't told us about and that he refuses to have anything medically done about it.

As you can well imagine, I was quite worried. My mind went through all the worst-case scenarios. I told my husband that I was NOT ready to let my dad go and was way too young to be thinking of the very real possibility of a parent dying. I spent the next hour or so thinking about my dad, talking to Kevin about him, praying for him, and even doing a little crying. I love my dad. He is quirky and he's not perfect, but he's one of the most selfless, giving and genuine persons I know. He does so much for my family that I honestly do not know how we would all get by without him.

Over the years, he has always been quick to drop whatever he is doing to run to my rescue. In middle school, he would drive my flute to school if I forgot it. In high school, he would drive extra fast to get me to school even though it was my fault I was late (and we're talking about a usually slow and smooth driving 35-year veteran bus driver!). When I worked at Ralph's, he drove right over when I locked my keys in the car or when I needed a jump the time I left my lights on. During my married life he has been quick to help me whenever my husband's been gone fishing, by stopping by on his way home to put my garbage on the front curb when I was pregnant, to come kill an enormous spider that I was deathly afraid of, to help me when I had car troubles, and more. Whenever I (or someone else) ask him for help, he never hesitates. He doesn't even mention what he's in the middle of doing, but quickly sets aside his own tasks to help others.

My dad doesn't care what people think about him. He doesn't care what they think of his clothes (he goes to the gym in jeans and his signature steel-toe boots!). Unlike many men, he certainly doesn't care what people think of what he drives (he's known for his barely-working junkers and interesting vehicles - anyone remember the "orange pumpkin"?). In fact, I don't think I can recall a single moment when my dad was bothered by what others might think of him. He certainly wasn't worried about appearances the time his car broke down and he had to borrow my hot pink, flower-patterned banana seat bike to get downtown to work at the Greyhound bus depot! When I was a kid, I thought my dad was just silly. When I became a self-conscious adolescent, I was embarrassed by his lack of concern about what others thought of him (but not to the extent of my sister who had him drop her off from school a block away because his ugly, broken down cars! :). Now, as an adult, I admire that my dad never falls into the trap that most of us do when we try to please the world and others, constantly caught up with appearances. Instead, he is content with who he is, he knows who he is in Christ, and he knows that nothing else really matters.

Being a goof and not caring who sees! :)

I could go on, but I don't have the time right now! My dad is doing better now (blood pressure is lower), but he won't be able to return to work unless he is fit for duty again. It seemed appropriate that the day he made it back to California and that I got to speak to him on his cell phone for the first time since the fainting incident was yesterday, Father's Day. And on this Father's Day I was more thankful than ever for my Dad and pray that he will be with us for many more Father's Days to come. I love you, Dad!

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