Lessons from Dad

Yesterday traveling to the Metro-East area to work a Dupo high school boys' basketball camp with Coach/son Steve, I tuned the radio dial to 1120 KMOX as I always do out of sheer habit. Growing up and coming of age in that metropolitan region in the 1940's and 1950's radio listeners became comfortable getting factual news and stimulating conversational-debate from on-air personalities i.e., Rex Davis, Anne Keith and Bob Hardy. These well-read clever talk show host and hostess never exposed personal political,preferences but caused listeners to consider, express and defend such position with civil discourse. Today's KMOX is a pathetic imitation of those times with a mid-day hate-spewing Rush Limbaugh and  light weight right-winger wannabe, Mark Reardon.

The one on-air personality worthy of my time is Charlie Brennan and he had my ear at the ten o'clock hour. Charlie was interviewing one interesting individual after another as he professionally weaved traffic and weather reports into the programming as well as a St. Louis 'Walk of Fame' vote- tally and a question for those with desires to 'call in' with opinions and thoughts.

It was Charlie's question that caught my attention: 'As Father's Day approaches, what lessons do YOU recall, which were taught by YOUR DAD?" KMOX phone lines were hot for the next several minutes with eager callers. I did not telephone KMOX with my personal thoughts but had I the lessons from my Dad are the following: 1) pull your weight ( Don't depend on others to do your job or assume your responsibility.) 2) appreciate favors but be careful in doing so to protect your  independence / don't place yourself in a compromised circumstance. 3) don't complain. Everybody has challenges and difficult times in life...make the best out of the worst. (This came from a man  whose life was touched by a nation's economic Depression Era and whose life was put on 'hold' to fight World War II.

As you wish you Dad Happy Father's Day this Sunday or remember his life, What lessons did he leave with you?
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I Remember His Lessons