That’s What He Said…

February has always been an emotional month for me. My grandmother, who I once spent a week taking care of, died in February when I was still in Jr. High. Thirty years ago, February 8^th, my Father passed away. Two Weeks later my youngest son was born. My dad left a lasting impression on me. One of the greatest things he left his children was the concept of Doing the right thing, even if no one is watching. It has put me in good stead many, many  times. He also had many other more down-to-earth sayings. Some came from signs he had in his workshop, like the one to the left. Others, well, I’m not really sure where they came from. Still, even after all that time, my dad’s many sayings are still with me. They were always given with a wry smile, so we never took them too seriously. I thought it might be fun to revisit some of them again.

 “If your brains we dynamite, you wouldn’t have enough to blow your nose.”

“You couldn’t pour water out of a boot if the directions were written on the heel.”

“I buy you books, and buy you books, and you still can’t read.”

“It’s ok, they’re only half trained.” (Usually about how someone fished.)

“It’s hard to soar with eagles when you work with turkeys.”

"You can't get blood out a turnip."

“You may beat me, but you’ll never whoop me.”

" If you do that, they'll put you away so far they'll have to shoot you biscuits with a slingshot." 

“We never had this when there were beatings.”

And my all-time favorite funny quote:

“If you do that again, we’ll both have to go to the hospital – to take my foot out of your behind.”

Seriously, the best thing he ever said to me happened when I was helping him on a service call a few years after we had moved to California. Our first daughter had just been born, and we had gone back to Illinois for them to meet her. While we were out driving, I asked him if he ever regretted me moving so far away. He looked at me like I had just said that I thought the moon was really made of green cheese. He then asked me two questions.

Are you where you are supposed to be?

Are you doing what you believe God wants you to do?

I answer “yes” to each. He response was both freeing and life affirming. He looked at me, smiled, and said, “What more would I want.” He gave me words of support; words of Love. That what I remember my dad for the best.

Thanks Dad. Can't wait to walk on the golden shores and get to talk again. Save some fish for me.