Today would have been my dad’s 85th birthday!! And as I’ve thought about that over the past few days, my mind has wandered back over the years and remembered the many things that made him special to me .. and to all of us who call him “Dad” and “Grandpa”.There are close relationships between mothers and daughters and I was very blessed by having a godly mother. However, there is a special relationship between fathers and daughters .. Dad, our hero, our protector, our advocate .. even to Mother on our behalf, at times.
My earliest recollections include things I have shared before – my dad making sure my sash was tied right and stayed straight! Making sure my hair was ‘slicked’ back – don’t you love those ‘spit shines’ our parents loved to give us! Making sure there was absolutely no doubt that I was (along with my mom and Rachel) his sweetheart – a designation he kept for those ladies he called ‘family’. His granddaughters, great-granddaughters and even his great-great granddaughter had no doubt that they were always treasured by Grandpa!
My dad was the king of the ‘under pushes’ .. I don’t even hear that term used now but when we lived on 16th Street in Rock Island, Illinois and I was in third grade, we would walk to Longview Park, just a block away. I ran ahead to find an empty swing and then yelled for “Dad, I want an under push!” And he would pull that swing back, hold and run, and I would be flying!!
He taught me how to ride a bike and later to drive – I’m sure he must have reconsidered his choice to ride with me in a car during that process. In later years, he was probably glad he taught me as I chauffeured him around town. I remember when I had my first car accident – okay, don’t laugh but it is pretty sad when the accident involves two of your parents vehicles. And smack in front of a restaurant your mother owns! I am sure that he thought of a lot of things he could say to me as he surveyed the damage which was only a dented fender – but instead, he simply told me to get back into the driver’s seat and drive around the block with him. I thought he must be crazy but he was wanting to make sure I would not be afraid to get back into the driver’s seat. And I wasn’t .. I don’t remember him bringing that accident up over the years .. although I remembered and we actually could laugh about it later!
He showed us our great country – he would load us all up when he was heading off to preach at a campmeeting and we’d have a vacation along the way – I still remember driving through South Dakota on a dark night and then seeing an eerie light as we neared Mt. Rushmore. We visited the American Indians in New Mexico and Yellowstone on our way to the northwest. We made memories to last a lifetime!
He taught us humor – from laughter at home to humor in his ministry, Dad taught us the ability to laugh – even at ourselves. He loved to entertain me when I was a child with his impersonation of some white bearded man name Mr. Pookenheimer! He would be getting ready to shave and have his face all lathered up and I would be entranced by this man who so resembled my dad! But, he didn’t just share that with me .. he passed that along to the next generation, too. I’m so glad they got to meet that special guy!!
My dad taught us manners .. a lot of those lessons came in practical ways – the ways he treated our mother! She never opened car door for herself. He taught his sons to always walk beside the road ..to protect their ladies. He taught my brothers to pull out chairs for ladies .. and he taught us more English lessons than we cared to learn in a lifetime. That has been passed down already to the next generation and every once in a while when there is a correction, one of my girls may answer, “Yes, Grandpa Boynton!”
My dad taught me quite a bit about music although he couldn’t play a note on the piano. However, I would accompany him when he taught voice lessons and learned quickly that an accompanist does not lead … they follow!!
My dad taught us patriotism and he lived that out as he shared stories of his time serving in the frontlines of battle in World War II. His eyes grew misty when he saw a flag waving in the breeze or heard a 21 gun salute in honor of a fallen soldier. When I heard those guns during my dad’s funeral, I’ll admit that my heart swelled with pride for having a father who so willingly offered his life for freedom.
He taught us to love .. unconditionally!! I don’t think there is a member of our family who would feel like they were loved any less or any more than another family member. Family loyalty was at the top his priority list next to his commitment to the Christ he served so faithfully and the lady he spent his life with – our mom.
Each of us had our special relationships with Dad – each one unique yet so very special. I remember one of those extra special times when I took my dad to Epcot Center for his 65th birthday. He was quick to let people know I was his daughter and that he not robbed the cradle! I will treasure the memories of that day forever – we had Mahi Mahi in a restaurant there and he often reminded me of how much he enjoyed that day. We talked a lot that day and he shared a lot about his life – even about regrets.
I will admit – I missed his call on my birthday this past fall .. he would always call and remind me that I was the little blond headed gal .. and he would tell me what time I was born, how much I weighed .. and how excited I was when Tim arrived. That is, until I though he might be getting a little too much attention so did all kind of antics to try to remedy that! He loved to tell us stories about when we were little!
Even though Dad and Mother are now both in heaven, it seems that our family bonds have only deepened. I am so blessed with four awesome brothers and a wonderful sister, sister-in-laws and yes, even a great brother-in-law! We are truly only a phone call away from each other and somewhere up in heaven, I wonder if Mother and Dad smile at each other and say, “We did good, didn’t we?” Oh, no .. not hardly. I already hear the gasp from my siblings! “He would not either say that” .. He would correct himself and say, “We did well, didn’t we?”
Happy Birthday, Dad … thanks for being the very best dad a gal could have. I am blessed beyond treasure!
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