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Pops,
Well, it’s
your 28th Father’s Day since I’ve been
around. This isn’t the first time you haven’t had a big
fancy gift from me to open and it probably won’t be the
last. But I don’t think you’ll mind.
One of the greatest things you’ve taught me is to
appreciate more than the tangible. You instilled in me a
respect for the things in life that are there for all of
us to enjoy if we look hard enough – love, friendship,
clean air, cribbage – while still managing to spoil me
rotten. You gave me all the things most parents,
including your own, couldn’t afford, but never let me
forget that those things aren’t what matter most.
So what does matter most? Integrity? Friendship? Family?
Love? Happiness? Health? Success? Along with cribbage
and cold beer I think it’s safe to say we’ve covered our
bases. So how do I achieve all those things? That’s
where you come in.
For nearly 28 years now you’ve been trying to teach me
how to get what I want. You’ve attached a moral to every
conversation we’ve had. You’ve lead by example. You’ve
praised and you’ve reprimanded. You’ve taught me more
than anyone else I’ve ever met. You’ve filled my head
with countless lessons, and although I haven’t always
heeded them, they’re up there. They’re up there
simmering, reducing, condensing. 28 years has rendered
them down to a simple set of principles to live by:
Be Nice
Be Honest
Be Thankful
That’s it isn’t it? That’s what it’s all about. I truly
believe I could forget everything I’ve learned about
religion, history, politics, the arts, and sales, follow
these three principles and succeed beyond my wildest
dreams. Likewise, I could study every religion, every
history book, every politician, every work of art and
every sales strategy, leave these three principles out
and fall flat on my face. I would add patience to the
list, but it’s not a quality you and I share (it’s the
Murphy in me). So I must forgo the patience and strike
off with my new six-word doctrine.
There’s no gift I can give you to express my gratitude
for what you’ve taught me. All I can do is say thanks
and try my best to make you proud.
Thanks Dad.
Happy Father’s Day.
Love,
Chris
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