ALT-11 Fathers Day Gift Ideas
Father's Day brings back so many memories from my childhood, but even more as I became a young adult. Although my father has passed away several years ago, I can't help but remember all the wonderful times we would spend together on those special weekends. I would always try to listen to what he had to say all through the previous year before determining what gift I would choose for his Father's Day present. Usually the choices would revolve around his unique projects or hobbies, and at times, there were so many choices to choose from, it became very difficult to decide on "The perfect gift".
One year he had complained about not having enough storage in his shop, and how he need to build some shelves to help him keep all his tools organized. So I showed up early Saturday morning on Father's Day weekend with a load of lumber and all the tools we would need for a very special project. We worked long hours that day to create the perfect storage system for his shop and mounted it along one wall before we decided that the project was finished. Mom had fixed us a steak dinner with all the trimmings, so after we ate and I was leaving that evening, he walked me to the truck and shook my hand, and as he did he was speaking,"I sure do appreciate all your help today." It made me feel proud to do something useful and be able to spend time with him.
Other times when there just wasn't a "Perfect gift", I would get him some fishing equipment because he loved to go trout fishing in the mountains, and I would insist that he drop everything he was doing so we could go try out some of his new dry flies, or a new fishing rod. So off we would go to spend the day together doing what we both loved and enjoyed, and most times coming back with our limit. Then after cleaning the fish and handing them over to the resident cook,(my mom), he would walk me to my truck, shake my hand and say,"I sure did enjoy that. We'll have to do it again sometime."
As I look back and remember all the Father's Days I got to spend with my father. It wasn't so much the gift I had given him. It was more about the quality time we had set aside to spend with one another. As we grow older, its easy to let our busy lives take us farther and farther away from the ones we love the most. So this Father's Day, don't worry so much about the gift you bring . Set aside some time to spend with your father doing the things you both enjoy. His "Perfect gift" will be the time and love you both share on this special day.
