Thursday, June 13, 2013

Theme Thursday: Dads

Dear Web Log, 
Reporting live from my local library, courtesy still no internet at our new home. But how could I not take a break from tracking down schools, swim teams, veterinarians and children trainers without joining Clan Donaldson for Theme Thursday, Dads?!

Ever met my dad?


Now ya have. I think if just about any of his six children were asked to close our eyes and picture our dad, this is what we would see. Except usually in a chair, this is his weekend pose, let's keep it real. 

My dad likes to read. But I am not sure that is accurate. That is like saying that guy in front of you in the checkout lane likes to breath, because, well, you noticed that. Reading is just him somehow, it is what he does, I think it would be degrading the word "like" to use it is this context. My dad reads. 



And raised six relatively well brought up children. And bikes. And makes pizza. And does Tai Chi. And walks. And thinks. And paints. And does all kinds of boring mind games like Sodoku and crosswords and who knows what else. He knows practically everything there is to know about everything. And loves animals and babies and nature. And making fun of people to his children. And carrying a joke on well after it is no longer funny, I mean for thirty or more years in my experience. And making his grandchildren laugh. And British comedies and old westerns. And worrying, he absolutely loves worrying, and as soon as whatever scenario has played out that he has enjoyed worrying, no matter, he always has plenty of backup worries in the wings. He loves people in need, not people in search of some good small talk (apply elsewhere.) And my mom, he really loves my mom.

My dad was born in San Francisco and lived his babyhood in Long Island while his mama finished her college degree and his daddy was off dive bombing in WWII. He lived most of his childhood in France, and most of his teen years in Colorado. Met my mom at Vanderbilt, married her in a little chapel on the campus of Yale, whisked her and their baby off to Taiwan where he finished his PhD, and brought his family of by then four to South Bend, IN, where he has taught Political Science at Notre Dame for over forty years. And has now retired, making for lots more time to spend worrying over what retirement should be like, and reading. 

  
My daddy gave all us kids his crazy hair, that will last for generations untold, his moodiness (bad pun, our last name is Moody), a disdain for snobbery of any kind, and love and strength as a natural inheritance to anyone raised under those fatherly hands. Thank you, Daddy, for all but the hair.

...And...

Here's another great dad I know...



Having a great father is the easiest way a girl can learn to appreciate and recognize a great man. Happiness begets happiness, and all that.

19 comments:

  1. "And worrying, he absolutely loves worrying, and as soon as whatever scenario has played out that he has enjoyed worrying, no matter, he always has plenty of backup worries in the wings."

    Your dad and I would get along great. I'm pretty sure Ken would agree that this describes me to a T. He's once accused me of worrying because I didn't have anything to worry about.

    I love reading your descriptions of the people in your life. You recognize the interesting and important in everyone around you.

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  2. Yes, what a gift our fathers give their daughters in choosing a spouse. Looks like you got a great Dad and hubby, so sweet!

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  3. That first picture is my idea of a good time. What an extraordinary life your dad has. There could be a movie or a memoir. He should get on that.

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  4. What a wonderful tribute!
    Your first picture could well have served for my dad too, that was the position he spent as much of any weekend he could.

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  5. Oh, I love this post about your Dad and wow I'm impressed. Taught for 40 years at Notre Dame. My father-n-law also got his Phd after having 3 kids and the years he was in school for it are always enjoyable to us because they were dirt poor as he studied away yet all 3 of the oldest kids talk about those years with great fondness!
    About the hair, I'm missing something because I've seriously had hair envy looking at some of your photos, I have no idea what your talking about! You have to understand, I have very fine hair - just a ton of it, haha!

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  6. I love the background on your dad - sounds like you were raised by a pretty awesome and interesting guy! And that last picture with the sunset in the background is lovely!

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  7. This has been a fun theme..fun to learn more about your life AND NEVER SAY anything bad about your hair and kids...best hair evah! my thinthin hair is just so icky.

    love the last photo of teen and dad. sweet!

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  8. That was a wonderful tribute to your dad. He sounds like a wonderful and amazing man. How blessed we are to have a strong father to show us the way.

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  9. How wonderful. I wish I knew your dad more.

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    Replies
    1. I think you probably know him as well as anyone knows him.

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    2. I guess you're probably exactly right, Annie! What I have always wanted to hear - one of his telephone conversations in Chinese. So fascinating!

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  10. Sounds like an awesome dad! Hope you're settling in. Can't wait to hear about life on the beach!

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  11. Sounds like you have a wonderful dad!! Thank you for sharing! :-)

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  12. Your dad sounds a lot like mine in the book reading arena.

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  13. You forgot to mention his love for "Up high, down low, too slow! Thank you for using my..." And, that he speaks Chinese. And, his love for "Farside" and "Farside" calendars. Otherwise, perfect depiction as usual!!

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