A week from today is Father's Day. It seems like just yesterday that I was writing my last Father's Day column.
This year, the day honoring dear old dad happens to fall on the first official day of summer. If my dad were alive today, he would use Father's Day as an excuse to go fishing. Like me, the guy loved the sport and, as busy as he was, he always seemed to find a little spare time to go fishing.
I regret that he is not here today so we could share that experience together. The good news is I have fond memories that will stay with me until the day I join him. I bet that when we have that reunion, we'll probably go fishing.
The first Father's Day was celebrated in 1910. The rumor is that someone at Hallmark Cards invented the holiday. In reality, Senora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Wash., came up with the idea while listening to a Mother's Day sermon at her church. It wasn't until 1972 that President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday in June.
I read one time that any man can be a "father" but it takes a special person to be called "dad." How true it is.
Fatherhood is so much more than just creating children. It carries with it a boatload of responsibilities as well.
A father is a role model for his children. If he sets a bad example for them, they are more likely to turn out the same way.
In many cases, the father is the primary wage earner in the family. He is the provider of the food, clothing and shelter in a place called home. When economic times get tough, he becomes resourceful and often finds a second job to provide for his family.
A dad is the one who teaches young boys and girls how to fish and play ball. He's often the one running beside you, holding onto the back of the bicycle seat as you learn how to ride a two-wheeler. He's also the one who has to let go of the seat when he thinks you are able to go it alone. He's the scout leader, the little league coach and the master of the barbecue grill.
If you are a girl, dad is usually the one who drives you on your first date. He is the one who has that "talk" with the new boyfriend and he's the guy who walks you down the aisle on your wedding day.
Dad's the one who loans you money that he knows might not be paid back. Dad will offer you advice but lets you decide for yourself. He has a shoulder to cry on when things get tough and you don't know where else to turn. That's a lot of responsibility for one person. I'm sure that each of you could add to the list of things that make dads special.
Recently, I was going through an old box of papers belonging to my mother. The process was slow because I didn't want to throw away anything that might still be important to her. While sifting though letters, bank statements, greeting cards and medical bills, I found an old Dear Abby column from my hometown newspaper. My mom must have enjoyed it enough to cut it out and save along with the other treasures in the box.
After reading the column, I also was moved by its content and felt that its message of personal responsibility was appropriate for the climate in which we currently live, as well as a Father's Day message. The author of the poem is unknown.
The Man in the Glass
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.
For it isn't your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass
Some people might think you're a straight-shootin' chum
And call you a wonderful guy
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye
He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he's with you clear to the end
And you've passed your most difficult test,
If the guy in the glass is your friend
You may fool the whole world,
Down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass
Happy Father's Day, northern Michigan!
Ed Hungness and his wife owned their cottage on Fife Lake for six years before moving there after his retirement in 2005. He can be reached at edhungness@yahoo.com. For more of Ed's columns, log on to record-eagle.com/edhungness.
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