FATHER’S DAY:    UNEXPECTED LESSONS MY FATHERS TAUGHT ME

Summer begins with us honoring our fathers.   My father and both my grandfathers are now in Heaven.  I recently tried to contemplate some of the lessons learned from these first men in my life. What kept coming to my mind was a time when I was a young woman and a novice driver.    My father and my grandfather both had accumulated enough driving violations that the state had determined that they both needed to take a sabbatical from driving vehicles.  Therefore, they were my passengers that day.   I cannot remember where we had been or even where we were going.   All I remember was that my father was in the back seat and my “Big Daddy” was seated next to me.

I can still clearly see in my mind the red flashing warning lights at the railroad crossing. The gate was going down in a slow motion like we were in an action movie.  I can still even more clearly see the fear in the eyes of the train conductor.  I could feel his heart racing along with my heart.  He could tell, even from that distance, that youthful ignorance was struggling with just plain common sense.  However, voices were filling up in my head.    My father shouted in a deep baritone voice, “Floor It!”  My grandfather added, “You can beat him!”  They both sang like the Righteous Brothers, “You can do it!”

The train conductor laid on the train horn as I slammed my foot down on the gas petal.  The tires left the street like wings. The car flew over the railroad tracks in front of the train with enough fast and furious motion that Hollywood would have been envious.

When we landed on the other side, my father and my grandfather were both breathless.    My father finally was able to speak, “Are you crazy!  I was just joking!”     Both my father and grandfather gave me some very expletive-laced speeches indicating that I needed to improve my decision-making skills.   I’m not sure if I am better for that lesson, but it is definitely a colorful and loving memory.     Happy Father’s Day