It's Father's Day today. Father's Day is
a bit awkward for me as I have no relationship with my father (and I am
not going into why, just accept that that is all you are getting).
But
I do have a father-in-law, and I count myself very lucky. My
father-in-law is a lovely man. He is kind and caring. He supports me in
how I manage my children (as does my mother-in-law, but today is
Father's Day). He is never mean or cruel. He does not manipulate or
humiliate. He doesn't lie or re-write the past. He is generous with his
time and with his care. We know we are important to him and that we can
always ask him for help.
He is a quiet man, never rude or intrusive.
He is impossible to buy a gift for.
He
is a gifted woodworker. I have many pieces of furniture made by him. He
is very intelligent and insightful, a great problem solver. He should
have been an engineer, but ended up a bank manager, a job he did with
great attention, grace and consideration.
He clearly loves my mother-in-law very much, and takes his share of the housework. He treats all women with respect.
He
spoils his grandchildren way too much. And his son. And me. He is on a
steep learning curve about teenage girls (my spouse is an only child, so
this is new territory, and my daughter is certainly putting him through
his paces. Yes, Father has a younger sister, but her as a teenager was a
long time ago).
He worries too much.
In
three days my father-in-law will turn 76. He laments entering his late
70s. But he is very fit, very active and doesn't look his age. He also
doesn't act "old". So he should be very proud of this milestone.
This is my favourite photo of him, taken when he was three years old.
Happy Father's Day, Pa. We love you.
