Happy Birthday, Dad!

In order to celebrate the the anniversary of my father's birth, I would like to list a few of the things my father has taught me.

1) How to run: I don't remember the first time I went running with my dad (I probably blocked it out because I was in such agony) but I do remember when he instructed me on the proper form to use when running. "Put your arms low, by your hips, and pump them like you're driving yourself forward," he said. "But I feel like Forrest Gump," I complained. I did it anyway and it did feel better, like even my arms were urging my tired legs to keep moving. Dad and I continue to run together over the years and I always think of it as our special bonding time, even if we're both too winded to actually talk. I don't always run with the proper form, but when I'm trying my hardest to keep going, when every bit of me wants to stop, I think of Dad.2) Try your hardest to keep going, when every bit of you wants to stop: Dad is a hiker. He was always making us go on hikes in the Adirondacks and, though some of the family was less than enthusiastic about it, I loved it. The thrill of the ascent, the sense of accomplishment upon reaching the summit, the being one with nature and loving every minute of it. Those are all part of the reason I love hiking, but there's also the part where you have to push yourself harder than you ever thought you could. Dad sweats. A lot. He loses so much water that his body starts to cramp until he is in absolute agony. When hiking this is rather tricky because it usually happens when he is in the middle of nowhere and has to hike out regardless of how much pain he is in. He's learned to manage the cramps now and has become an ADK 46er, but boy did I learn from watching his body rebel against him. Sometimes you have to try your hardest to keep going, when every bit of you wants to stop. 3) To love hockey: Another special bonding time Dad and I had was going to RPI hockey games. I developed a deep love of hockey (and the players) when I was in high school and was so lucky to get to go with him to the games almost every weekend. We even traveled to Lake Placid for the ECAC Tournament a few times, where we would watch hockey, ski, go out to eat, and I would feel like the luckiest girl in the world. He taught me so much about the rules, the strategy, the proper names to call the refs, that after awhile I stopped caring about the players so much and started loving the game. I also loved that it meant I got to spend time with him and because of that, I still have a deep love of hockey and still know all the words to the Canadian National Anthem.
4) That it's okay to have popcorn for dinner: Dad didn't have popcorn for dinner every night, but it happened often enough. He would work late and miss dinner or maybe he would miss dinner on purpose because the popcorn was that good. Seriously, my dad knows his popcorn. If we were lucky he would give us our own bowl, but just a bit because, after all, it was his dinner! Dad always seemed to make those dinners that were special or maybe they were just special because he made them. He would make a cold cut platter with salads when it was too hot out to cook. He would make corned beef hash from a can and other weird canned meats like deviled ham. And of course he always manned the grill. Those meals were exciting, different, and fun to eat, but will always pale in comparison to the popcorn.
5) How to wear a Halloween costume: So maybe it's just because Dad loves to act. Or maybe it's because he had all these great outfits lying around. Or maybe he just wanted to teach us the importance of a Halloween costume. Whatever the reason, I was never as excited about the candy I was going to get on Halloween as I was about finding out what Dad would dress up as when he took us Trick or Treating. We would sit around in our costumes, waiting for Dad to come home from work so that we could go out. His costumes would always be a surprise and so the anticipation mounted as his arrival drew nearer. They ranged from an ape, to a ghost with heavy chains, to Thomas Jefferson, to... my favorite.... a woman. For that reason I can't seem to let a Halloween pass without dressing up as something, even if I have nowhere to go. Dad taught me well. It's so much more fun that way!
Obviously my father taught me a lot more than those five highlights, but he's 63 today so there are far too many lessons to recount! Happy Birthday to a wonderful father and a great friend!