Things You Taught Me, Dad

by Susan G Holland

How to play.
How to pump to make the swing go high.
How to walk on stilts.
How to put frozen fingers in cold water to thaw them.

How to play tricks without being mean.
How to apologize.
How to jump over a stick held between both hands.

How to play the hand-slap game.
How to pronounce “interesting.”
How to use a brace and bit.
How to do a headstand.

How to blaze a trail with white wash on tree trunks.
How to read a map.
How to count the seconds between lightning and thunder.
How to make a standing opponent fall down from a prone position.
How to watch the ball.
How to “put English on the ball.”
How to use an American Flyer.
How to drive.
How to hold a snake.
How to sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”
How to make a “cat’s cradle.”
How to tie a boat to a piling.
How to know north from south and east from west.
How to change a tire and how to put on chains.
How to say no nicely.

How to hold a rifle.
How to clean a rifle.
How to respect a firearm.

How to respect electricity.
How to whittle.
How to camp out.
How to sail a boat.
How to fix a toilet.
How to be a good team member.

How to sort out a good friend from a bad one.
How to use a voting ballot.
How to balance a check book.

How to fish.
How to clean a fish.

The list goes on and on, as I review the kindly and patient teaching my Dad did as I grew up and moved into adulthood, and even into middle age.

He was not a perfect person. He taught me that, and that no one is a perfect person. He taught me that taking responsibility for failing was a part of growing up, and that it went for grown-ups as well as for children. That a clear conscience is a powerful thing.

He taught me that disagreeing with him was not a declaration of war.
He taught me that love is saying what you mean, and meaning what you say.

My father made a prophesy for me, I realize now, when he said, early in my young life:
“Whatever you do or try, you will always wind up “right-side-up” because that is the kind of person you are.”

Thank you, Dad.

love, Susan (AKA “Shorty”)

©SGH2017