This Father's Day

Today was a wonderful day to be a father!  At least here in the Twin Cities, the sun was shining, the breeze was gently blowing, and I was surrounded with love.  I've celebrated Father's Day in the past, as many of you know, but today was a special Father's Day for me because it was the first Father's Day that I could hold and hug and kiss my son.  I felt overwhelmed with pride today, as I watched my son crawl, as I watched him eat sweet potatoes, and as I watched him look back at me with amazement.

As a family, we went to lunch at Snuffy's.  If you've never been, there are at least two of them in the Twin Cities, and they are the best malts/shakes around.  The burgers aren't bad, but the shakes are worth every calorie.  After lunch, we went to the Como Park community pool.  This was Grayson's first foray into water that wasn't a bath.  He was so serious about his adventure.  He studied the water and how his legs moved in it.  He even proved that he could hold his breath.  Very brave, and it filled me with awe to see him explore something so new and foreign.  He even made a little friend: Evelyn.  After the pool, I grilled steaks for dinner.  Dessert was Dairy Queen.  I'm sipping on a scotch as I type this.

I couldn't think of a more perfect Father's Day.

But today wasn't just about me and Grayson.  Today was also about my father, Harry, and my other son, Calvin.  I stopped to see them both on my DQ run after dinner.  Very quick "hello"s, but worth the trip.

Two summers after my father died, I was driving a van full of senior citizens around a six block radius in Madison, WI.  On my lunch break, I was eating in my van listening to Triple M, the local adult contemporary station.  It was really a cross between Cities 97 and the Current.  For Father's Day weekend, they played a song that simultaneously broke my heart and healed my soul.  It is called "This Father's Day" by Peter Himmelman.  I listen to it every year on Father's Day now.  I listened to it tonight while grilling.

I can't find it on iTunes, but I know the lyrics by heart (and by Google).  I want to share them with you today. 

When no-one is forgotten
When nothing goes to waste
When sadness turns to laughter
When anger is defaced
You’ll start to know the way I feel about you

When weakness turns to power
When evil turns to good
When the helpless are remembered
By those who never would
You’ll start to know the way I feel about you

And if I could, I’d run out into the street
And scream to everyone I meet
That I loved you more than words could ever say
And that I loved you more than life this Father’s Day

When caring is exalted
When kindness knows no bounds
When integrity comes easy
When love is all around
You’ll start to know the way I feel about you

And if I could, I’d run out into the world
And tell every boy and girl
To love before love takes itself away
Just like I’m loving you this Father’s Day