ALT-3 Fathers Day Gift
Fathers Day means much more to me as I got older and especially now that my own Dad has passed away. Gift giving for any occasion in the past has been quite difficult for me and can still be at times. Maybe it is for some of you too!
A young child will put their heart and soul in the homemade gift. The precious cards, pencil holders, paper weights or art work. I can remember how it felt as a child to make these things and to be so proud of our work.
As you get a little older and independent, you think how silly those homemade things must have seemed to your parents. So we might try to make up for it by giving something a little more extravagant, hoping that they like it and maybe even make them proud. For example, a gift to Dad might be a nice trolling motor for a small fishing boat. He might say, "Look here Hon, she gave me a really nice trolling motor. It's beautiful." But secretly running through his mind is, "Where's the boat, I don't have a boat. Is my mind slipping, do I have a boat and I've just forgot?"
Once we reach a certain, let's say, maturity we learn that all those silly homemade things were lovingly packed away like precious treasure. The "trolling motor" never really forgotten but yet didn't leave the lasting impression you desired. Later on, it probably became the ice breaker at the dinner table.
Now, I try to listen to the small talk, general conversation or reminiscing. For example if your Dad is on up in maturity and he mentions or you over hear that he never had a wooden spinning top as a child and he always wanted one, then that would be a Great Father's Day gift! So what if he's 80, can't you just see the light in his eyes?
I know we are talking about Father's Day in this article, but I learned this lesson now that my Mother is widowed and showing signs of Dementia. She only had 1 doll as a child and very little candy or soft drinks. If you bring her a doll, Hershey Kisses or Cocoa Cola today she will think you hung the Moon!
So what will my husband, the airline mechanic/should-have-been Veterinarian, get this Father's Day? A real Fainting Goat! Why? Because he loves them, they are great companions to the horses, they keep the weeds down in the pasture and the 2 goats we have today are quite the conversation material. He had this one goat that would get out of the pasture and paw the front door every time we sat down to dinner. I've watched through the window as he walked our Yorkie with a 15 lb Manx Cat and 35 lb Goat right on his heels. It was a hilarious sight to say the least. Even funnier was the time the Yorkie got in to the pasture. Just picture this: a 7 lb Yorkie being chased by a 15 lb Manx cat chased by a 35 lb Goat being chased by a 1100 lb Quarter Horse and a grown Man running them in circles trying to get the madness to Stop! Now that was priceless! And it only took one word from me, "the girl" to say "Stop" and everyone froze. Where's the video camera when you need one?
The Greatest Father's Day Gift is one they may have already spoken about, one that you lovingly remember they always wanted but never had a good reason or the means to acquire. It doesn't matter how little it may cost or if it cost nothing at all. The most important part of the gift is that you were listening, you heard their story and your hearts desire was to fulfill a wish or need for them. Maybe it is as silly as a Fainting Goat or spinning Top, but if it pleases them even for a moment, then Why Not?
