...and our fathers that begat us -- Ecclesiasticus 44:1
It's not just on Father's Day that I think of and honor these men. I do it every day of my life because they are part of the fabric of my being. I have been fortunate enough to have absorbed much of the goodness they have taught me:
Ralph E. House, my father. The man who taught me honesty, character, integrity, and charity. The man who taught me that a handshake, freely given, was a bond that should not be broken. The man how taught me that humor will always conquer anger, and that doing the right thing is always the right thing. The man who taught me to respect the small things in life and in nature, and to never take them for granted. Although he has been gone for more than four decades, I remain hopeful that one day I will be half the man he was.
Harold A. Keane, Kitty's father. Always friendly and almost always cheerful, Harold was a feisty first-generation Irisher, and because he was Irish, he could hold a grudge. His anger was never directed at a person, but rather to a system. Because he remembered all too well his early days of "No Irish Need Apply." He was fiercely opposed to bigotry. As the proud owner of a Bronze Star, he was also fiercely patriotic and would be saddened when our leaders would put politics over people and expedience over honor. Harold was also friendly and displayed a great sense of humor. A child of his time, he ws also completely at sea about how to raise a daughter. Harold was protective about his family. He got a great kick out of his grandkids. I main saddened that he died just weeks before his first great grandson, Mrk, was born, because I know he would have loved him beyond words, and would have been so proud of the man Mark grew up to be. Harold loved the water and could not be far from a lake or the sea.
Michael T. Dowd, Jessie's husband, who died of a sudden heart attack at age 31 as he was preparing to go golfing. Perhaps it is crass of me to say it, but Mike's passing from a heart attack was appropriate because his heart was a big as all outdoors. He loved Jessie and his two daughters more than anything. He spent the last night of his life making soap with the girls, and loving every minute of it. He had a quick wit and a sense of direction that was even worse than Kitty's. You could never get mad at Mike, even if he did something that appeared bone-headed, because in the next minute, he would do something that showed his innate kindness and caring. He would have been proud of what Jessie and the girls have done with their lives. Wherever he is now, he knows they still carry him in his heart.
John Dowd, Michael's father. John is a lawyer and a damned good one. His politics are completely opposite from mine and I respect him for that. John is a proud ex-marine and supports our men and women in service wholeheartedly. He believes strongly in the code that the Marines had taught him. He and wife Carol could not have children of their own, so they adopted at different five children of different races who needed a good home -- for that alone he deserves the highest praise. As a lawyer, he firmly believes in each person's right to have a strong defense, even though much of his work was in defending persons accused of white collar crime, I have to praise his dedication to the principles of law. He is deceptively smart and has a great sense of humor. His legal career has brought him to the heights of law in D.C. as a partner in one of the area's most influential law firms; the list of some of his clients is impressive. John has also been active behind the scenes in Republican politics, and served as one of Donald Trump's lawyers during his first term (his advice to Trump: Don't ever allow yourself to testify under oath!). As I said, I do not agree with his politics, but his proven love of family and this country, as well as his strong commitment to integrity places me solidly in his corner.
Walter R. Roof, Jr., Christina's husband. Like many introverts, Walt is great company and has a cadre of good friends wherever he goes. Walt is a pull yourself up by your bootstraps kind of guy. when he married Christina he was a high school graduate and she held a degree from George Washington University. H studied night and online to gain his bachelor's, perfecting his computer skills. soon he went from working as a cabinet maker and ambulance driver to providing technical assistance the the TSA, eventually to becoming a manager of major computer projects for the Air Force. (Yeah, we have computers scattered all through the house.) Walt has many interests and often combines them into small businesses; while studying for his degree and various certifications, he ran a computer consulting company on the side; he combined his skill and love for woodworking into another small business and ended up building small trebuchets; he recently closed down a fifteen-year-old soap making business because it began to interfere with his work for the government. I don't known what kind of work Walt does for the government, nor do I want to, because if I did know, Walt might just have to kill me. Currently, Walt has a professional photography business on the side. Walt is also physically fit, and practices Muay Thai; two years ago he travelled to Thailand to take professional pictures of their world championship. Through it all, Walt is devoted to Christina. He instinctively knows exactly what gifts get her. Often they would pack a lunch and head to the beach to watch the sunset and just spend quiet time together. Christina has said she married Walt because he makes her laugh; he still does. And Walt is also a fantastic father, raising three completely different children. Mark and Erin are out of the house now (although they often come by for advice, or just because), and Walt spends a lot of time now with Jack, guiding him in his special way. I cannot express the admiration I have for Walt and the things he has done for Christina and the kids.
Walter R. Roof, Sr., Walt's dad. Senior is a good ol' boy. He is a friend to everyone and will gladly talk your ear off. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He and Ellen had been living in Virginia, but both of them begin to have health problems and we talked them into moving down here so Walt and Christina could be close to them if needed. Nothing seems to bother Senior; he approaches each day with smile. Sadly, Ellen's health has deteriorated to the pointed where they will probably have to move in worth us sometime over the next few months. I know this is a difficult time because Senior is devoted to Ellen, but I suspect when, and if, they move in Senior will be on first-name terms with neighbors whom Walt and Christina have never met, even though they has lived here for ten years. And Walt just bought a pool table and moved into the dining room, so Senior will happy as a pig in dirt with a pool table, Ellen, the family, the animals (who he loves), a gazillion neighbors to be fri4nds with, and a weekly Bingo game. Senior's enthusiasm and zest for life is contagious and I, for one, am happy they moved down here and that I get to spend more time with him.
And I also celebrate Your Father, living or dead. I may know some of you personally; other I know through on-line friendships; still other I have never met either in person or via the internet. Even if I do not now you, I am willing to bet you are one hell of a person, because that describes the vast majority of persons on this Earth. And because you are a hell of of a person, I'm willing to bet that that is, in no small part, because of the influence of your father, and his father before him and his father before him. We are all the products of a long chain of ancestors who have embedded themselves in our DNA and in our very being. In honoring those who have helped make you you, I also honor you because, let's face it, you are pretty fantastic. It is a pleasure to be in your presence as you read my words: I am completely gobsmacked by your being here.
So, let's raise a glass "to praise famous men" -- to my father, to the fathers who have directly influenced me, and to the fathers who have made you the special person that you are today. Skoal!
Happy Father's Day!
No comments:
Post a Comment