For Dads and anyone who knows a Dad:
Tuesday after her city council meeting, Rita and I were in a pizza joint and the background music caught my attention. It was the opening riff of a song I had not heard in years. It was barely audible, but it brought instant emotions to the surface.
I couldn’t even recall the name of the artist, but the lyrics came together in my head:
“I wasn’t there that morning when my Father passed away. I didn’t get to tell him all the things I had to say.” If you recognize the lyrics, listen here.
Then I began thinking about other dad songs. This classic came out when I was in high school:
“My son turned ten just the other day. He said, ‘Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let’s play. Can you teach me to throw?’ I said, ‘Not today, I got a lot to do.’ He said, ‘That’s okay.'” If you recall those lyrics, listen here.
And one more. A favorite of mine. I had the sheet music and strummed it for my own enlightenment several years before I was a dad:
“From the moment I could talk, I was ordered to listen. Now there’s a way and I know that I have to go away.” Even if you don’t recognize those lyrics, listen here.
Not sure about you, but I’m a sucker for a good story song with a family connection. If you have a favorite, let me know. (And I apologize if these links took up too much of your busy day or got you misty-eyed.)
Of course, a lot of these fathering emotions and challenges are interwoven in my best-selling books for dads.
Keep at it, men,
/jay