• Home
  • The Author
  • The Book
  • Excerpt
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Other Works
  • Order Now


Olivia’s Story
Home › Blog › Blog › Ruminations On Dads
Ruminations On Dads
14 Jun

Ruminations On Dads

David L Dahl Blog 1 0

Father’s Day is just around the corner, so I’ve been ruminating on Dads. Now before I start I must confess something – God blessed me with a great Dad, Don Dahl, and with a great Grandfather, J. Harold Tower. Knowing these men made my trip through life much easier.

Dad has been gone for a while; however, he is often in my thoughts, perhaps more since he passed than before. A mild-mannered Junior High School teacher, Dad’s example molded three generations of children; thousands of future Doctors, Scientists, Engineers, and Teachers. It was in his class that these young men and women first encountered the Scientific Method.

I suspect, however, that his lasting legacy is his life example (see Sputnik and a Cactus Named Bob). Even today, when facing a tough decision, I wonder what Dad would do. Now to be sure, Dad’s influence was just one aspect of the success of his students, yet I believe it set many of them on the correct path.

Dad’s path began under the tutelage of his Dad, Nicholas, a stereotypical stoic German farmer. Grandpa Dahl was as quiet as Dad was talkative. In fact, I remember few conversations with him, as he was always working, or watching the White Sox. Non-verbally, however, Grandpa Dahl spoke volumes. As poor as he was, he worked hard to provide for his family, regularly attended church, and in my presence never spoke ill of anyone.

The the other primary influence on my Dad was Mom’s Dad, J. Harold Tower. Long before Mom and Dad dated, Grandfather Tower hired Dad to help around the farm. Grandfather needed help since his full-time job was education. He began teaching school in the 1920’s,  became a school Principal, and then County Superintendent of Schools (see Willie Started It!, Advice From The Third Hollar, and Safe From the Picklocks of History). Grandfather’s calm, steady approach to life set an excellent life example for his students, his children, and his grandchildren.

 

The other day, I was reading about the life of Winston Churchill, and it struck me that several of his quotes could’ve come from Dad, or from Grandfather.

“Never, never, never give in!”

– Winston Churchill

For years, as Dad coached cross-country, track, and wrestling, his coaching focus was not winning,  it was more important to finish the race and meet your individual goal. He wanted his charges to do their best, to never give up (see Not Everyone Can Win).  In this, he showed us how to set personal goals in life.

Dad, the ultimate optimist, had a knack for finding the good or humorous in all situations. He could always find something nice to say.

Dad believed that how we looked on life was a personal choice. We could choose to look on the bright side of things or to dwell on the dark side.  It is that choice that determines who we become.

Often life hands us difficult tasks. When it does, it is our duty to tackle and finish them, regardless of how difficult or distasteful they might be. Dad’s generation, often called the Greatest Generation, exemplified this sense of duty. These men and women made great sacrifices to restore order to the world. They returned to make a better world, raise their families, and silently go about their business.

Two examples come to mind. My Sister’s father-in-law, a doctor, served in a field hospital in Normandy. He returned home to become a beloved small town doctor. The father of a high school chum served in a tank unit during the Battle of the Bulge. He returned home to became the local scoutmaster and quietly molded future leaders.  My Dad worked on the farm before shipping off to the Philippines.

His generation had a hardwired sense of duty, a duty to their God, their Country, and their family. Sadly, a trait that seems to be lacking today. I’m not saying that it doesn’t exist; it’s just not as widespread as it once was.

Perhaps Dad’s most memorable aspect was his humor. Known for his bad puns, and silly jokes, I believe Dad would have loved this last Churchill quote.

In the end, isn’t the ability to smile and laugh our most valuable life tool? After all, none of us is getting out of here alive.

_____

David L Dahl

I would love to hear your comments.

You can read more about Olivia’s Story at – https://www.buggasbooks.com/book/olivias-story/

or you can read about my other books at – https://www.buggasbooks.com/other-works/

or follow me on Twitter,

or like me on Facebook,

or like me on Facebook,

Save

Save

Save

Save

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related


One Response to Ruminations On Dads

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recent Posts

  • Had a wonderful time discussing “Those Kids Deserve Water Too”
  • Those Kids Deserve Water Too
  • Coming soon – Those Kids Deserve Water Too
  • These Guys Still Make House Calls.
  • ♫ Give a Hoot – ♫

Recent Comments

  • Gabriel on These Guys Still Make House Calls.
  • AmyL on Why is That in Our Food?
  • Teresa Wilburn on At Least It Wasn’t A Dinosaur
  • ig on Tent Flaps and the Storm of the Century
  • Shari on A Thump In The Night

Archives

  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Blog
  • Book Reviews
  • My General Musings
  • Olivia's Story News and Events
  • Politics
  • The Patoka History Project


  • Home
  • The Author
  • The Book
  • Excerpt
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Other Works
  • Order Now

Copyright © 2019. David L. Dahl. All rights reserved.