Of Unsaid Contributions, Related To My Father and Father's Day

In light of Father's Day, I thought that I would post one of the few pictures that we have of both my parents early on in their life. They were married March 29, 1951. Apart from choosing to invite Christ into his life, a few months before his death, his marriage to Barbara Jean Morris, was the best decision of his life... My dad was 5'11" and weighed 135 lbs... soaking wet... Clearly I did not get that part of his genetic makeup!  Actually, according to my mom, I most resemble her grandfather Smith, who was a 6'3" lumber jack who lived up near Somerset Pa.

Despite some of the significant challenges he presented to us as children, there were a number of really good things that he passed on to his four sons.

He could be amazingly funny and until he reached mid-life was known to be the life of any party. My dad was an effective communicator and surprisingly very articulate... capable of artfully turning a phrase or colorfully describing an image — especially when it came to humor (this probably helped him a lot as a salesman). Despite having only a 6th grade education, and then eventually getting a GED (His obituary incorrectly states that he graduated from Washington High School), he could be very analytical and insightful... even philosophical at times. He taught us all to be very proactive and assertive in the protection or our family. He passed on to all of us his profound (and now ours) love for the outdoors — particularly when it came to where we prefer to live, love for animals (especially dogs!), hunting and recreational activities outside. He clearly passed on to us our love and passion for the 2nd Amendment and the possession of firearms as well... Without question, he insisted that we all have a healthy respect for "authority," particularly parental authority... Both he and my mother are buried in Ten Mile Creek Cemetery, in Prosperity Pa, on the Northeastern slope, of a very high hill, overlooking deep wooded valleys and green pasture lands. It could hardly be more appropriate... These are some of the redemptive things that he has passed on to me... and for that I am very thankful...