All of us meet many people along the way in life, and if we’re lucky we make a few good friends. I feel like I was especially lucky because, you see, my dad was my best friend when I was growing up.

You could say that we kinda grew up together because I was born when Pops was still very young. It was like a big brother, teacher, dad and very good friend all rolled into one – except when it came to the disciplinary, then the dad side was always out front.

Most people always saw Dad as a very successful, hard working, strong character, that with just a look could project his point with a very clear understanding.

It was only the lucky ones that got to know his generosity to his fellow man and the huge heart that this guy had. I’ve seen my dad loan people money knowing in advance that there was a small chance that he would ever get it back. He would start people in business that would have never gotten that chance. I often wondered how he became so successful in my younger days after giving so much away until I finally asked him a few years later about it. His only words were, ” son, you get what you give,” and Dad gave a lot.

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t hear his voice instructing me with his common-knowledge wisdom that he obtained thru the hard knocks of life – he had a bunch. You see Dad had a sixth grade education because e had to drop out to go to work at the family dairy farm that was born during the depression. He figured out pretty quick that was not his bag, and decided that he wanted to work for himself. From there he never looked back ’till he had created several successful businesses. For a lot of those I was right beside him because he was my only employer ’till age 25.

The dad part of him was always giving instruction and life skills, and the friend was always there to share the problems and successes. He was a big role in my life from being the best man at my wedding, to teaching me how to be a dad myself.

Although Dad passed away eight years ago at a fairly young age at 65, I can assure you he lived more than most folks do that live to be 100.

Not only did Dad play the role of my best friend, he also started me in photography, today my job, hobby, and love.  Dad loved pictures, and he was also a big collector of cameras. He would see a cool camera and buy it, but he never took the time to learn how to use it. I remember one day when he brought out this old Exacta, by todays standards it wasn’t much but then it was something special, I was 17 at the time. He hands this thing to me, and a love affair started that is still going on today. I find it amazing how one person’s influence can continue to mold you throughout life, even when they’re not physically here anymore.

Being a father of four on Father’s Day, I think about all my boys. I hope that I have given them a small part of what Pops gave me throughout the years so he will continue to live on forever. 

Happy Father’s Day Dad.