How Can You Describe a #1 Dad?

His smiles, his laughs, his scowls and frowns.

The way he always is there to help you,

even when you never even asked or hinted at it.

His strength in character, His strength in hand,

His jack-of-trades ability and his fix-it-mend-it talents.

How can you put into words not just anyone's father, but mine?

Well, its' tickling you until you wet your pants;

always remembering birthday spankings regardless of your age;

flickering the porch light when curfew had past;

the hugs and the kisses and the

"blowing w/a loud noise" on your belly or neck;

the "this is going to hurt you more than

it's going to hurt me" routine;

the hugs and the kisses;

one of the best in making compliments of my potato salad

and one who had to wear sun glasses at a

daughter's wedding to hide the tears.

What pluses did I get in having a dad like mine? I got a:

driving instructor, a lumberjack, a mechanic of autos,

lawn mowers and especially clothes dryers.

I got a taxi cab driver; master "mover" of furniture;

mastering how to fit tons of belongings into a small

pickup truck and lots of hugs and kisses.

I got a horticulturist, especially of azaleas; a painter;

a chef at making BLT's; carpenter; lots of hugs and kisses;

a "gopher" (best at taking orders for over 48 yrs

from the best foreman-my mom!) I got a tightrope walker

doing a balancing act between house dormers;

occasionally I got a father-daughter date to McDonald's

for pancakes; an animal warden and pest controller

of squirrels, mice, bugs, snakes and especially cats and bats!

I got lots of hugs and kisses.

I got an excavator; tree surgeon; aggravator

and instigator (a pro at it I might add); and #1 at excitement

over watching the Washington Senators and Redskins!

You get an awful lot when you get my Dad!

He can make you want to laugh.

He can make you want to scream;

but he makes you want to cry when

(in visits) too much time has gone by.

He's been a teacher, a landlord (who's experience has

grown in the last 2o some years). And he's the only father

I know that was exuberant to watch his first daughter

deliver her 5th child via of C-Section!

He's everything a child would want this side of Heaven.

If it hadn't been for the loving example of my own dad,

it would be hard to tell what distorted, warped view

of my Heavenly Father I could have had and how my

entire emotional and spiritual life would've been affected.

Did I say he was good at hugs and kisses?

P.S. Mom, you deserve a gold medal!!!

©1993 Janet Coulby Daughter of W.W. Whitmore, Sr.