Me: Hi Dad! So…I’m doing a writing challenge this month and YOU are my topic for today. Is there anything you do or don’t want me to tell the world about you?
Dad: (Long pause) What is this for? Facebook?
Me: No, it’s for my blog. A couple of my friends and I have taken a writing challenge for our blogs this month. So…this will be public.
Dad: Do you have to interview me?
Me: Um…sure! I can do that! What do you want to be when you grow up?
Dad: (Laughter) I don’t know if you’re being serious or not. I’ve actually joked about that recently.
Me: Dad. This is very serious business. (Holding back a giggle) Let’s start with an easier one…What’s your favorite color?
Dad: Well, when I buy a car, I tend to go with blue, but I really like green, you know the color we painted our office? It’s also the color of money. (He laughs again)
Me: Good answer! I love green. It’s my favorite too. Okay…Tell me something fun on your bucket list.
Dad: Aruba. I’d like to vacation there sometime. I always thought that would be interesting.
Me: Well, I know you’ve traveled a lot, any chance that will become a reality?
Dad: I don’t know…maybe.
Me: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve done so far on your travels?
Dad: Shari made me go parasailing with her. I didn’t want to go, but now I’m glad I did. We also really enjoyed snorkeling in the Bahamas.
We chatted for a bit longer about Max’s girlfriend and what I’ve written about so far with the challenge, then my friend Cherie showed up to surprise me with Chai (YAY!) so I had to wrap it up…
Me: Okay Dad, I’m going to write this post tonight and tomorrow I’ll send you a link to it…and a picture of Max’s girlfriend.
Dad: Can you use an alias?
Me: (Laughing) I think the title of the post will make the use of an alias a moot point. Okay, what would your alias be, Dad?
Dad: Uh…Elmer.
Me: Elmer???
Dad: I supposed Fudd would be too obvious.
Me: Hahaha yeah, probably.
Dad: Elmer Johnson, then.
Me: That sounds like a very Wisconsin-ish name. Okay, Elmer. I love you. I’ll chat with you soon!
He cracks me up! 🙂
Since I didn’t record the conversation, I may be slightly off in the details, but this was fun. I love my dad. He’s a funny man. I don’t get to see him very often, but I really enjoy our time together, and we do have our phone conversations to look forward to. He’s good to me and he’s a good grandpa to my kids. Then there is my wonderful stepmom, Shari. My dad has a treasure in that woman! She’s a spunky, fun grandma!
Every year or so when I venture back to Wisconsin, my dad throws a huge party for me. My siblings and their families, aunts, uncles, and cousins all come over for a family cookout and we eat northern food, talk about the Packers, and tease my dad about his pride and joy – his impeccable lawn. 😉 It’s one of my favorite things about “going home.” After these parties, I go to bed feeling like I’ll burst – not from the food, but from the overload of emotions. I feel wanted and accepted and loved. My dad does that for ME. Wow.
We got to spend Easter with them this year. It was the first time in ten years all of my kids were in Wisconsin at the same time, so we did the “Grandpa tour”. He showed them the houses he lived in and his old school, he took them to the skate park and watched them do their tricks on their skateboards, and he showed them his model train and let them run the controls. We also introduced them to the wonder that is blue moon ice cream, and I drove them all over the city on the “Mommy tour”. It was a great trip!
Isn’t he handsome? Every Father’s Day I pull this photo out and post it on Facebook. It’s an older one, but I love it. I didn’t grow up with my dad, but he’s been in my life since I was in college. I’ve known him much longer than I haven’t. I don’t tell him often enough, but I’m crazy about him! (Even if he needs a better alias. We’ll work on that.)
Check out these other Dad posts:
Don at donhillson.wordpress.com
Beckie at free2b2much.blogspot.com
Tracy at countyroadchronicles.wordpress.com
Sometimes I Write 