The Wisdom of My Fathers
Well, today, the anniversary of American Independence, I should make good on my first blog entry's threat of bewailing, ad nauseum, the state of nationalistic pride, and lack thereof, in America today. However, I've got some thoughts careening in my head that must be let out before I go totally bonkers. And, I believe they will still be apropos.
Just some little kernels of wisdom I will probably recite at my father's wake, if I'm still alive myself. Some are his, some are my grandfathers'. Maybe even one or two from my mother.
One day, many years ago, my grandfather was riding along with his adult sons, some of whom smoked. Grandpa was an alcoholic who would never admit it; to him, 'alkies' were the bums living on skid row, begging for hand-outs. He never begged anything.
One of my uncles began to lay into him about his drinking. When his tirade ran down, Bill looked straight ahead and simply said, "You stink."
In two words, Grandpa recited the old adage about a penchant for throwing rocks when you reside in a many-windowed home. Concise, and clever.
My dad told me that Grandpa's approach to childrearing was equally as concise. One rule: Don't lie, cheat, or steal. That's it. Of course, there are other concerns parents should address. However, that one rule is a heck of an umbrella.
(On a rather entertaining side note: My Grandmother divorced that grandfather after fifty-one years of marriage! When she later remarried, I stood up for my Grandma! How's that for surreal?)
Looking at it from all sides, however, this is the same man who hid the family's life savings ($27) in the pocket of his three year old son's overalls. So maybe, he viewed things slightly skewed.
My own dad's wisdom, while vast (to hear him tell it) manifested itself in a myriad of silly sayings and risque cadence songs. Risque, because they were taught to his little four year old daughter. Oh, wait. That wasn't wisdom. That was stupidity.
But one thing for sure he taught me: Respect for the American flag. He instilled in me a love for those colors so deep, tears run down my cheeks when I gaze upon them. To me, there is no color scheme more beautiful than the Star & Stripes.
Tonight, we went to watch our city's annual firework show. In previous years, I have been sorely disappointed. Where were the Red, White, & Blue, preferably in that order? Oh, sure, lots of white. Some red, quite a bit of blue, lots of green and pink. Hmmmm. What's wrong with this picture? It's INDEPENDENCE DAY, people. Pink??? It's like my neighbor blasting his mariachi/polka/oom pa pa music on 4th of July in the USA.
But, this year was different (although, we did leave to escape my neighbor). For the first time, the City of Indio, California fed my need for a little patriotism. I got Red, White, & Blue with a vengeance! And it was beautiful!
It made up for having to learn all those stupid cadence songs.
Just some little kernels of wisdom I will probably recite at my father's wake, if I'm still alive myself. Some are his, some are my grandfathers'. Maybe even one or two from my mother.
One day, many years ago, my grandfather was riding along with his adult sons, some of whom smoked. Grandpa was an alcoholic who would never admit it; to him, 'alkies' were the bums living on skid row, begging for hand-outs. He never begged anything.
One of my uncles began to lay into him about his drinking. When his tirade ran down, Bill looked straight ahead and simply said, "You stink."
In two words, Grandpa recited the old adage about a penchant for throwing rocks when you reside in a many-windowed home. Concise, and clever.
My dad told me that Grandpa's approach to childrearing was equally as concise. One rule: Don't lie, cheat, or steal. That's it. Of course, there are other concerns parents should address. However, that one rule is a heck of an umbrella.
(On a rather entertaining side note: My Grandmother divorced that grandfather after fifty-one years of marriage! When she later remarried, I stood up for my Grandma! How's that for surreal?)
Looking at it from all sides, however, this is the same man who hid the family's life savings ($27) in the pocket of his three year old son's overalls. So maybe, he viewed things slightly skewed.
My own dad's wisdom, while vast (to hear him tell it) manifested itself in a myriad of silly sayings and risque cadence songs. Risque, because they were taught to his little four year old daughter. Oh, wait. That wasn't wisdom. That was stupidity.
But one thing for sure he taught me: Respect for the American flag. He instilled in me a love for those colors so deep, tears run down my cheeks when I gaze upon them. To me, there is no color scheme more beautiful than the Star & Stripes.
Tonight, we went to watch our city's annual firework show. In previous years, I have been sorely disappointed. Where were the Red, White, & Blue, preferably in that order? Oh, sure, lots of white. Some red, quite a bit of blue, lots of green and pink. Hmmmm. What's wrong with this picture? It's INDEPENDENCE DAY, people. Pink??? It's like my neighbor blasting his mariachi/polka/oom pa pa music on 4th of July in the USA.
But, this year was different (although, we did leave to escape my neighbor). For the first time, the City of Indio, California fed my need for a little patriotism. I got Red, White, & Blue with a vengeance! And it was beautiful!
It made up for having to learn all those stupid cadence songs.