Happy Father’s Day

You didn’t have to spend all those summers working the second job at Oglebay, but you had a family to raise.

You didn’t have to spend all those years painting and wallpapering on the side, but you wanted to make sure your kids got to go to the beach every year.

You didn’t have to spend all those years driving second-hand cars, but you wanted your kids to have new clothes for school.

You didn’t have spend all those summers getting up at 5 am to go work in the garden, but it helped to feed the family and allowed you to help pay for four sets of braces and four sets of glasses.

You didn’t have to always defend me, but you did- even when I was probably definitely wrong.

You didn’t have to be mayor for 20 years, but who else was going to take care of your family’s town?

You didn’t have to put up with me when I was a bastard as a teen, but you did- and you even blamed yourself for my behavior.

You didn’t have to stand up to all the bullies at work who were doing the wrong things and picking on those who couldn’t defend themselves- but who else in your Department could and would take the heat?

You didn’t have to travel to my Basic Training, but you were so excited to see me finally listen to an authority figure that you did.

In short, you didn’t have to do any of those things, but you did.

Thanks, and Happy Fathers Day.