I overheard Kathie planning with her dad to watch the X-Men movies (1 and 2) before No. 3 hits theaters this summer. Even though superheroes aren’t my usual “thing”, I said I wouldn’t mind seeing them, too. Ignorant of their comic book history, I’d like to understand just what the characters are all about (never mind that I’d enjoy seeing Hugh Jackman, in spite of his “Wolverine” costume).
Kathie explained to me, quietly aside, that this plan was just for them – a father/daughter movie-fest. Great. I’m for that; count me out.
Just the day before, I’d asked Josie what the “DAD” written on her calender the Sunday a week before Fathers’ Day was about. She informed me, “I’m making a point to save the day for Dad – Minnesota.”
Kath and I have been planning our own movie-fest with Lord of the Rings. I finally read The Hobbit hoping it will set the mood for the movie trilogy. (Well, I can’t wait to read the book before I watch every movie!) If you haven’t read it and, maybe, have no interest in it, you should at least know that hobbits, according to author JRR Tolkien, are little people, half our height (smaller than dwarves), with no beards. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach,
dress in bright colors, wear no shoes, and have good-natured faces and deep laughs (especially after dinner).
Hobbit protagonist, Bilbo Baggins, often quotes his father’s wisdom: “Every worm has his weak spot.” and “While there’s life there’s hope!”
I suppose we all have words of wisdom we gleaned from our fathers. I can’t think of many quotes that are unique to my own father, but one phrase of his comes to me often: “Required reading.” Dad often said this and laid an open magazine or a clipping of some sort under our noses. It was usually annoying (just being honest, Dad), and I think of it every time I stick an article at the girls and say, “You should read this.”
One sure thing: fatherhood (parenting in general) is a special give-and-take learning process that lasts as long as life does. There ought to be more than one day a year to take note of it. I guess my kids are on the right track about this.
More quotes on fatherhood:
“A father carries pictures where his money used to be.” – Unknown
On how to diaper a baby: “Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher’s mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again.” – Red Sox pro Jimmy Piersall
“My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, ‘You’re tearing up the grass.’ Dad would reply, ‘ We’re not raising grass. We’re raising boys.” – Minnesota Twins pro Harmon Killebrew
“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap on a rope.” – Bill Cosby
“I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.” – M*A*S*H*’s
Col. Potter
