Father's Day

When I think about the holiday referred to as “Father’s Day” my mind travels to places that sometimes should be left to memory.

I think about the times when a phone call or a letter or a card (before social media) was the appropriate method to reach out to someone. Father’s Day seems to be lost in the shuffle of days to remember.

After all, fathers worked crazy hours, and we were lucky if we had any time with them. Fathers seemed to be preoccupied with matters that we could or would never understand. Fathers could be found, if we were lucky, at the dinner table as the day wound down and it was family time.

We always remember Mother’s Day because the connection was deeper and, in many cases, more profound.  Fathers, on the other hand, seemed more remote and distant. Perhaps it is the DNA or some such reason that gives us these feelings.

And then, there is no one to acknowledge — the light has dimmed and is replaced with his memory. Could we have done more, celebrated his life in a more meaningful way? When we focus our minds on the past, we forget the times we laughed and sang and shared our joys and sorrows.

Perhaps this Father’s Day we should stop for just a moment and realize that it is not too late — never too late — to express our heartfelt thanks for the blessings he gave us and continues to give us, if only in thought and memory.

To all the fathers, grandfathers and, yes, great grandfathers, let us start a new custom of uttering two words that incorporate so much and its immeasurable meaning: Thank you!