The Things We Learned From Our Dads!

For Father's Day, Patch decided it would be fun to ask people what lessons they learned from their dad. Luckily, I was able to find enough people willing to tell me on camera the first things that popped into their heads when I asked that question. 

In Waterford, those people were (listed here in order of appearance) Assistant Town Clerk Janet Hanney, Town Hall Receptionist Linda Geer, and Waterford residents Marlea Bergeson, Nanci Bustamante, Michele Clements, Jennifer Miller, Nolan Burhans, Jodi and Jared Weiss (two of the Weiss family triplets), with special Father's Day greetings from Katie, Gavin, Jordan, and Riley. 

Thank you all for sharing your stories with me when I ambushed you at random with a video camera in hand!

And now, because turnabout is fair play, here are a few things that my dad taught me. 

My dad taught me how to tie my shoelaces (rabbit ears) and how to ride a bike (fast!). He taught how to play blackjack, to hit a bullseye with an air rifle, and a triple 20 with a dart. One of the most useful skills he ever taught me was how to whistle loud enough to recall a dog from half a mile away. 

My father didn't only teach me practical things. By example, he taught me that some rules were absolute but that others could—and maybe should—be bent or broken.

My dad and I have quite different (some would say opposing) political and philosophical viewpoints, but that taught me to stand up for myself and for what I believe in.  

My dad didn't always intend to teach me these things. No doubt, sometimes his aim was to teach me quite the opposite. But that was what I learned. 

In many ways, I feel my father taught me how to be a man. And as a woman, that's a very handy thing to know.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

And thanks ... for everything!

What did you learn from your dad? Share your stories in the comments!