A collection of stories, wisdom, and wit for Father’s Day.
Happy Father’s Day Weekend!
I wrote a piece for Mother’s Day last month, and I mentioned how my brother could do no wrong in my mother’s eyes. As it should be, right? He could get away with absolutely anything when it came to “The Mom.” Take high school art fees, for instance. You’re only supposed to pay them once, right? Not for his class. Apparently, his needed to be paid twice. Mhmm. I wonder if his sons ever tried that on him? haha. But just as he was the golden boy in our house, I was the apple of my father’s eye.
I could ask my dad for anything. If I needed a pair of “Fancy Ass” jeans or a new t-shirt, I’d go to Dad. Even as an adult needing gas money a few days before payday, yup, I’d go to Dad.
My cousin Dawn and her husband, John, often invited us over for holiday dinners. We always had a lot of laughs. Between them, their five kids, me and my two, and my parents, it was a full house. On one of these occasions, my kids decided they wanted to go home with my parents. No problem there; they loved spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa.
But then, remembering the low gas gauge on my way over, I asked my dad if he had ten bucks so I could make a stop on the way home. As he reached for his wallet, Dawn, who had watched the whole thing unfold, was shocked. “They’re taking your kids home and he’s giving you money?!”
Yep. It was like that. And to top it off, Dad handed me a twenty.
What can I say? I was always perfectly fine with my mom doting on my brother. I knew she loved me too. He, in turn,was a great father to his own boys. But for me? Dad always had a hug and/or his wallet handy.
I miss him so much. His whisker rub burns, his gruff talk, which was mainly just for show, and the way he always grabbed my hand right when I needed it most.
When I was a young teen, I had to have emergency surgery. What was alarming for me was having someone come to my bedside before the procedure and pray. What? Do people not come out of this particular surgery? My poor father had to witness his young daughter, terrified and dragging him down the hall by the hand as she was wheeled away. My recovery went well, but I had a lot of pain afterward. When Mom and Dad came to visit me in the hospital, my dad looked at the glass of water on the table in the visitor’s room, pointed to it, and asked, “Is this how you’re treating the pain? Vodka?”
I’m sure it was mostly because I was weak and exhausted, but in that moment, that was the funniest thing he had ever said to me. I had to ask my mom not to bring him back to visit because he made me laugh too much, and laughing hurt.
It was Christmastime, and when I finally got home from the hospital, the house was completely ready. My dad knew how much I loved Christmas, so he wanted everything perfect for my arrival. The decorations were out, the lights were up, and there in the living room stood the Christmas tree. The fully decorated, lit up, lopsided tree.
Dad had gone out and grabbed a tree, the first one he saw, so he could get it home and get everything ready. After a chaotic emergency room visit, sudden surgery, and days of painful recovery, that lopsided Christmas tree was the most beautiful I had ever seen.
Years later, Dad was asked to give the toast to my cousin Norma at her wedding. As the big day approached, I asked him if he had written anything down. “What for?” he asked. “So you don’t forget what you want to say,” I replied. “Do you want me to write something up with you?” We chatted about what he wanted to say, and I penned it out for him. A day before the wedding, I asked if he had read it over just to get comfortable with the delivery. “I can read,” he scoffed. “I don’t need to look it over.”
The wedding day arrived, and Dad, standing at the front of the hall full of family and friends, read his speech. One of the lines was meant to say: “Norma, your easygoing ways…” My mistake was not ensuring the entire phrase fit onto the same line. When he got to that part, he read aloud, “Norma, your easy…” and then paused to look down at the next line. The room erupted into heavy laughter. The picture I chose to use of him today was from that exact moment, holding the notes, looking over at the crowd, and laughing right along with them. Memories. They pop up and bring back that feeling of being in his presence. I can feel his arm around my shoulders, comforting me when I need assurance.
Thinking about all this as I wrote everything down, I wanted to see what others had to say about their own fathers. I asked on social media for people to share their favourite memories, advice, or classic sayings they inherited from their own dads.
The responses were a beautiful mix of practical advice, sweet traditions, and classic dad humour. I was pleased with the mix of sentiments shared, from fathers still with us and some that have passed on. I’m sure you will be too. Enjoy.
Maggie Chicoine shared that her dad was “Dan the Photographer” (Dan Koljonen), whose studio was on Red River Road from the ’50s to the late ’70s. “His specialty was weddings, baby pictures, and funerals, life from birth to beyond for mostly Finnish and Italian clients. He insisted on guaranteeing quality in every single shot and always included an extra photo in each order. He delivered on time, every time. This focus on service served me well in my own career because I learned this in childhood and it became a natural element in my business plan. I also inherited his frugal financial thinking.”
Anna Weatherston had some advice her father shared. “When we had a big job to do, my dad, Saverio, would always say, ‘If you don’t start, you won’t ever finish!’ I still think of him whenever I have a massive task ahead of me.”
Julie Young shared a simple bit of dad advice. “My dad always says, ‘Only drive as fast as you can afford.'”
Edward Maki had this to say about the fathers in his life and their advice on getting things done. “The best thing my dad, Ted, and my father-in-law, Peter, taught me is the art of the Jerry Rig. Anyone can replace a part with the right tool and a full toolbox. But when the stores are closed, or you’re in the middle of nowhere, making it work with the bits and pieces you have close by, using rusty pliers and a screwdriver found under the truck seat is an art form. That should be taught in schools.”
Lois Hunt Adams has some of her dad’s advice to share. “My daddy exudes kindness and patience. That being said, he always told us never to pass judgment on anyone or any situation, because you never know what will end up on your own doorstep. His name is Harold Hunt Sr., better known as ‘Nipper’ all his life. He now goes by ‘Papa’ to so many.”
Carol Woroniuk shares her father’s words on being honest. “My dad always told me to tell the truth because then you don’t have to remember what you said. If you tell a lie, you have to have a good memory! I’m older now, and I still live by this. It was the best advice he ever gave me. Guess what? I don’t lie.”
Some sweet dadisms from Jenn Kivisto. “At bedtime, my dad, Ed, used to kiss his hand and press it onto my forehead like a postage stamp. He would ask where we wanted to go in our dreams and would ‘mail’ us there before we went to sleep. When I stayed with him after a surgery just a few years ago, he did the exact same thing before I went to bed, which was incredibly sweet. Even now, when we’re crossing the street, he still looks out for cars for me, and he carries all the heavy stuff I buy when we go yard-saling on weekends. I feel very lucky to have him.”
MaryLee Miles-Mehagan wrote on her father. “My dad, Wally Miles, passed away when I was only 16. I was born with severe asthma, and the family had a beautiful golden cocker spaniel named Teddy whom they had to rehome because of my allergies. Whenever I would ask my dad if he loved me, he would chuckle and say, ‘Well, we kept you and got rid of the dog!’ That was just his witty way of showing love. He spent six years away from my mom during WWII, where he was wounded by shrapnel, and passed away at age 57 in 1974.”
Lisa Alton shares how her father was a big comfort to her on trying days. “My dad had this uncanny way of knowing when something was wrong. Being tough, I never wanted to show it. He would come to the door, look at me, and say ‘Ba-bye’ in a very specific tone. I would walk out, get in my car, and be in tears driving home. Within 10 or 15 minutes of me walking through my front door, the phone would ring. It was him saying, ‘Are you ready to talk now?’ He just knew. So many times since his passing, I could have used that phone call or that ‘Ba-bye.’ I miss him so much, but I know he is still near in my heart.”
Amy Wrigley-Hollanti recalls some classic dad wit and interesting advice. “The best advice my dad, Rick, gave me about dating? ‘Never get your meat where you get your bread.'”
Kimberlee Kirkup took her father’s dating advice seriously. “My dad told me to never eat spaghetti on a first date. He was SO right. He also lovingly nicknamed me ‘Fat Kid,’ and I returned the favor by calling him the exact same thing.”
Sheena Lewis and her family have a game they play when her father sends a message. “Every time my dad texts me, the whole house yells ‘Fish or fart!’ because he’s either sending a video of someone fishing (which is our thing) or some sort of fart video. It’s become a game at home and now even at work. It’s dumb, but it’s hilarious.”
Heather Sumners-Bouley shared career advice she may have wanted to ignore from her father. “A piece of advice my dad gave me was to stand up for myself at my job. So I did… and I got fired! Lol. He was right to tell me to stand up for myself, but I still lost the job. I never asked him for career advice again!” Maybe it was good advice but didn’t seem like it at the time?
Maria Cabral has some fun memories about her best friend’s father. “My best friend’s dad, Bob, was a humble man. If you were ever nervous or intimidated by someone, he would say, ‘Just remember they put their pants on one leg at a time.’ It was a great reminder that we’re all just human. His other golden saying for someone who was gloating or acting superior was: ‘You know what dogs do to big wheels.’ I think of his funny but true saying often.”
Valerie M. Haigh had written about fathers and sent this in, titled “The Dance.”
Lastly, Michael Davis gives us a small peek at what life was like with his father. Chaotic and fun.
“My father, Terry E. Davis, had quite a list of ‘Terry-isms,’ phrases he coined and used daily. But his best advice ever was: ‘Don’t take both stupid pills in the morning; save one for the afternoon.’ My god, do I miss my parents. On the other hand, with his 30+ years dedicated to youth curling and the ‘Sticks and Stones’ program, not a single session started without him yelling to the crowd: ‘What are we going out there to have?’ and 100 children screaming back: ‘FUN!’ My god do I miss my parents. My advice, call your dad, go there, hug him. Tell him you love him.”
A father’s impact leaves a permanent footprint on our lives, whether through practical life hacks, protective check-ins, or eccentric humor.
Dads. Hug ‘em if you’ve got ‘em. For me, I smile and remember the good times and know that my Dad lives on in my memories and brings a smile and a wee pang in my heart.
