Why I Love My Dad...

Happy Father's Day!

What's not to love about my dad? He and I both know that even though those moments in high school when I thought, "Oh no...he's in my classroom today!" that I was secretly proud that all of my friends thought, "How cool! It's Mr. Nelson!" You see, it's quite impossible not to love my dad! And, seeing as I don't do it nearly enough, I am going to share with the world some of the many reasons why that's true! If you know him, I think you'll agree! If you don't know him, you'll go away thinking, "Gee, she's right! What's not too love?" As a tribute to the great Cameron of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," I say, "Gus Nelson, You're my Hero!"
(D Rae--forgive me!)

So, here it is: Why I Love My Dad

My dad worked hard for his country. For twenty years he served his country, sometimes traveling far from family. We have cool dolls from Thailand and little hoola-dancers from Panama and stories from all over.

My dad took me to Krispy Kreme--just me--when Mom had to go to the dentist. I loved that one glazed donut with a glass of orange juice!

My dad ate dinner with us every night. I will always cherish the "Nelson Dinner Hour." We learned about football, politics, and how to tell corny jokes! I still laugh at the jokes, even though I've heard them many times!
That leads to the next reason. My dad is the absolute best corny joke teller in the world! (Dad, don't be offended by the word "corny." I happen to like corny jokes! My favorite? How can I have one favorite?

My dad taught us all about football. I remember watching the NY Giants from my dad's reclining chair. I remember the moments he would tell us to form the defense line--all four Nelson girls standing in a row shouting, "Defense!" (Did Johanna actually join in on that?) Anyway, I can watch football with the best of them.

My dad took us on awesome roadtrips. The Grand Canyon, Ruby Falls, the Gulf of Mexico, that western place that I can't recall the name of--where I was sick the whole time, the "4 Corners" where the four states come together, HAWAII (ok, that was partly the USAF's fault, but he took us to many neat places while we lived there!) and much more. Oh the fun of it all! Especially all the moments dad said, "STIFLE IT!" Hey, 5 kids in a station wagon driving across country can get a little crazy!

My dad taught us right from wrong--not just in therory, but by action. He has to be one of the most honest and just people I have ever met.

My dad taught us that "whether you rent or whether you buy, you pay for the home you occupy." That's a freebie for you.

My dad simply did what dad's should do, and that's why I love him so much. Oh, there are many more examples I could note, but I'll save them for another time! I'll end with a quote I wrote for my parents' 4oth anniversary a few years ago:

I just remember growing up and being allowed to be a kid. Thanks for never pressuring us to be anything we weren’t. And, thanks for never making us feel like we had to live up to some standard, or to be more than who we were.

Happy Father's Day!