I am back in time, a teenager again with the power to tune Dad out.
He was “old world” old fashioned you know. Out of date.
He was a European immigrant who became a naturalized American citizen and he created a life and a family in the country of his dreams
And when I was a teenager I could fool him into thinking I was always listening to his words of wisdom.
I must have been listening
because all these years later
I am remembering his lectures.
“Don’t overstay your welcome Darling,” he would say when I was to spend part of a summer with my Aunt and Uncle and young cousins.
“After 3 days, company smells like dead fish,” he said. (What he was really saying was he would miss me terribly.)
But now I know my Dad’s lectures originated from love.
- “Sit up tall at the dinner table and eat as if you are royalty.” (If you act like a Queen you will be treated like one.)
- “A suitor should wear a white shirt and tie and kiss your mother’s hand.” (You will be happiest with a man who respects women.)
- “Do not neglect your education. Learn a skill like typing – something you can fall back on to earn a living.” (Don’t count on anyone but yourself to take care of you.)
- “Take time with your grooming. Your hair is your crowning glory and every strand should be in place.” (If you care, everyone else will care too.)
- “Always be early for every appointment.” (If you are prompt, people will respect you.)
- “Do not borrow. Pay everything with cash.” (Remain self sufficient so you will never be without.)
- Always look for the best and buy quality. (Well made things last longer and are better investments.)
- “Keep a clean house. You should be able to eat an egg from the floor.” (Cleanliness is vital for good health.)
There are more words of wisdom of course, and I hope to remember and record them all.
For as old fashioned and out of date as Dad was, the great part is his lectures always began and ended with love.
I had most all of these drilled in too, except for typing. My mother said repeatedly, “Never learn to type or you’ll be stuck doing secretarial work!”
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Father truly does, know best. Lovely post, Dor. In 52 years, my father’s words of wisdom have never failed.
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Love is the best motivator. He helped make you the woman you became, and he did a great job! 🙂
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What a marvelous peek at your dad!
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Your dad sounds remarkably like my dad. Even with so many changes in society at large, their wisdom holds.
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Funny how our parents’ wisdom seems more important now than it did then. Lovely message.
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Sweet tribute to your Dad.
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Except for the Queen part, it was preached to me growing up also. I even took typing in HS. Well said my friend.
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I remember a lot of my father’s lectures. Now, how many have you repeated and the realized, “OMG, I sound like dad!”?
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Oh how I remember those lectures from my Mom. I think some of the youngsters should see this post Dora It’s terrific and Oh so true.
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Great message, and super closer!!!
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What a lovely . . . . and loving . . . post. Don’t we wish our dads were still around so we could say, “Oh…you were so right!” You and I (and many of us strong woman) stand straight and tall because of our dads, who believed in us and spent the time to ‘lecture’ out of love. xo
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🙂 And your mother was right about the perils of learning to type.
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Thanks Anne. I am just beginning to understand Dad a little, all these years later.
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I agree, the wisdom stays and not only that, but it crosses oceans.
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Ha! I haven’t tried eating an egg off the floor yet though.
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If my grandgirls read it, they will surely think it’s “old fashioned” stuff, maybe even more so than when I first heard the lectures.
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Thank you roughwighting! You have caught the gist of my thoughts about a parent’s influence and Oh, to talk to Dad once more. There are so many more questions to ask.
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Wouldn’t it be fun to have our parents back again for a few hours?
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What a grand thought Anne! But I would want time ahead to create a list of questions for them both.
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Wise words, Dor. You are lucky to have had a great father. I am amazed how many things I say now are from my mother.
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Absolutely! I’d be tongue-tied if they appeared suddenly with no warning.
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🙏💙
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I heard many of these as well, and it swelled my heart to listen to them again. Honestly, these are the lectures kids should be getting today opposed to the messages they’re receiving from society on the need to be perfect.
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Thank you — I particularly enjoy the way you interpret the particular (which dates) with a principle (which endures and reveals your own wisdom).
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Dor, I love it that you can remember what your dad said! I’m not sure I could come up with a single saying, although he probably said many. A great post. Nostalgic and wise. And such praise for a father who may well be somewhere in the Universe nodding and smiling and loving you still.
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Thank you Kathy. It seems the older I get, the more I remember of my parents’ words of wisdom.
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Weren’t we the lucky ones to be blessed with strong Dads who left lasting impressions of love on their girls? Loved this so much! MJ
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So true Emjay! And I’m so happy you enjoyed this post. 🙂
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Ditto to all the wonderful things said about your Dad from the wonderful bloggers above!
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