Hello,
Welcome to the super-secret, ultra-classified Sunday post of That’s Mind. If by chance you have not come across it yet, I have a set schedule for posts up to the end of 2022. But in between those dates, I figured I could give you guys some extra content in my free time. Have no fear, I will continue to honor my set schedule and post this Friday (Sept. 2)!
The subject matter of my previous two posts has been quite heavy and I’d like to lighten the mood around here for just a moment by sharing a story that is irrationally close to my heart. I’m not ALWAYS a cynical, quadrupedal, doom-anticipating animal. I sometimes experience inner waves of emotional warmth that could rival every star in the galaxy! This little tale is about a very, VERY special person that has supported me since my literal conception, (please laugh).
My Father.
He has no idea I remember this and probably has not even the slightest clue of how important it is to my life story. So, Dad, I hope this makes you cry when you read it. Because I am.
Let’s travel back in time about 20 years or so. My Dad wasn’t much older than I am now. We had a small house, lots of Kid Cuisine frozen meals, and no ketchup in the house. (I didn’t find out what ketchup was until around the age of 6.) In the backyard were an above-ground pool and a bountiful Pecan tree overlooking the porch. Darn near every day of my adolescent life, my father would swim with me, and it was without a doubt the most carefree time of my life. I had my Dad, a few good pups and God knows how many Pokémon toys. Now, there is no possible way I could ever communicate to you the amount of time that poor man spent trying to create the best possible life for me. He worked like a machine and still found the time to give me memories worth more than heaven. But amongst the glimmering sheen of endless love I have for my father, two moments effulge superlatively against all of the others.
Honesty and Opinion.
These were the two words my father gave to me that had a permanent impact on the tiny mind that became Dan.
The first to come was honesty. A not-so-jovial series of events had just unfolded in both of our lives, and I was settled in a position of desperation and truth. I didn’t know what it was to be honest at the time because I was a child, but I was. And on that day of my confession, my Father taught me one of the greatest lessons I’ve ever learned. He said, “Daniel, do you know what honesty is?” Of course, I told him no and proceeded to question him. I cannot remember his exact words, but his message was basically that the bravest of people in life are honest, no matter the situation they find themselves in. They are honest with themselves and can therefore face the most vulgar and depraved obstacles life can conjure. The day after our conversation, I remember returning home from my grandmother’s to a surprise I have never forgotten. It was a white Cubix robot toy with rainbow polka-dot markings on the major vertices of the figure. I had mentioned this figure to my Dad only once and he remembered exactly the one I had described to him. Now keep in mind I was around 3-4 years old and had horrendous descriptive skills. But he still somehow found it. I think about that toy a lot. Even as a 25-year-old man. (LOL)
The second to come was opinion. It was late at night, and Pop and I were home, sitting at our tiny bar table that overlooked the kitchen counter. We had just eaten dinner together, which was an extremely rare occurrence at the time because he worked graveyard shifts. Somewhere along the way, I acquired a small toy of a female character. It was a woman in a battle stance, with a sword in her left hand and a laser blaster in her right. She had red hair shaped in a bob and was outfitted in a brilliant, iridescent purple jumpsuit. Up until that time I had never once questioned myself for playing with a toy that was a Woman. Until I did. I asked my dad, “is it bad I’m playing with a girl toy?”
He looked at me.
And said, “Do you think it’s a cool toy?”
I replied yes because I liked her sword and the paint job on the figure. (It was shiny)
He said, “Then that’s your opinion. If you think it’s cool, so do I.”
This absolutely shattered my brain. At that very moment, my father gave me the keys to self-reflection and inner development. And from that moment in time, my embers of original notion became smoldering plumes of ravenous fury.
I am pleased to report that my intellectual crusade endures to this very day, stronger than ever.
Thank you, Dad. I hope that in my lifetime I can give you even half of the days you have given me.
I love you forever.
Just in case any readers are curious about the post title – (I went through a longgggg dinosaur phase in my childhood and the Pterodactyl just so happened to be one of my favorites. So naturally, my father gave me the nickname “Daniel-Dactyl.”)
Dan
That was a wonderful story, and it brought tears to my eyes . Although, I also chuckled at the no ketchup in the refrig comment . When I met ur dad there were no condiments in the house . Lol
But thank goodness we are now fully stocked with commercial sized ketchup bottles and any other imaginable condiment he never uses. Lol
And yes , your dad would move mountains for you because of his love for u! And back in the those days before Amazon he would spend hours hunting down all sorts of Pokémon toys .
Thanks for the memories Dan!!
Thank you Daniel for your post. It was very heart felt and did bring tears to my eyes. I do recall the figures and the moments we shared like it was yesterday. Such a simple life back then and yes while I did work so many hours I tried my best to spend what time I had in-between with you and would do it all again . I am so proud of the young man you have become. You have overcome so much in life, seceded beyond expectations in studies, understanding of life in general, respect for others, and a kind heart. You have always been by my side, never been disrespectful, and supported me in anyway possible. I will always be here for you and your biggest supporter. I have loved son with all my heart since the day you were born and will always .