As a product of the Depression & World War II, my dad instilled in me a work ethic, self sufficiency, risk taking and the ability to think beyond my immediate situation. He made life easy for me relative to his own upbringing.
Great stuff! My dad and I didn't really get close until I was in my 30s. Once he decided I was going to "make it," he was always there with support and advice.
My Dad was a simple hardworking man who grew up in the Depression era..he use to say Life give you nothing for free but does provide you with opportunities...grab one and run with it
I never knew my father. My parents divorced when I was 3. I grew up in a single family home, then married a wonderful man who also came from a bit of a dysfunctional family.
He is the best father & now grandpa. He says he wanted to be the kind of father he never had.
I often wanted to contact & connect with my father but…I never did. I hold no grudges I do however have regrets.
We cannot control how wonderful or awful our parents are. We can only strive to be the best mother or father to our own children & love them unconditionally.
Today is our youngest son’s first Father’s Day, he is an awesome father & da da❤️
While we may recall a bit of wisdom or advice provided by our dads, probably the most significant thing for me was that he stayed married to my mother. They were a "package influence," and that would not have been possible if either of them had bailed out due to perceived slights of the other.
Thanks John - this is great encouragement to those of us fathers and grandfathers. I had the great pleasure to take my 6 year-old grandson to his first Duck game and last week to his first Dodger game. Sports is such a great way to build a relationship whose foundation is love. Please keep up the great work; looking deeper at the real meaning of life.
BTW, I’ve got a great John Wooden story for you sometime!
My dad was a fish counter in Alaska alone in the wilderness at 16. At 18, he joined the Navy and after his initial tour he worked for Tektronix for years while maintaining his service in the Naval Reserves for 33 years. In the 80's he ran for Secretary of State against eventual Governor Barbara Roberts. I grew up poor in a trailer, but he made sure I knew that a lack of privilege meant nothing if you had dreams and worked hard. He died too young but I think of him and the example he showed me all the time.
Nice to see I'm not the only one whose father survived the Great Depression and became a wonderful father. My dad was, without question, the classiest man I've ever met. He was so kind, so generous and so loving to me, his only child. Everything I've accomplished in life can directly or indirectly be tied into growing up with such wonderful parents.
If repeating it a hundred times means it's your favorite saying, my father's was "if you want to double your money, fold it in half and put it back in your wallet." So of the many things he taught me, the value of a dollar and its inherent responsibilities has to be tops of a long list. He passed 26 years ago--I still miss him.
My dad passed when I was 11. I was lucky to have others to have mentor me and help me along. I have done that for my kids and now grandkids. Be there, be supportive, show unconditional love. I have raised amazing human beings and today am proud to be called dad.
My pop was born in Myrtle Point, Oregon in 1928, lived on a farm with no electricity or running water. His dad was a logger, and my dad followed him into the profession at an age you could not legally do now. Dad used his earnings from working in the woods to get to the University of Oregon where he majored in Drama and played clarinet in a Tommy Dorsey style big band. He also attended UO Law though never practiced. He was drafted for WWII but the war ended before he saw combat. They sent him to Germany to assist with post-war stuff but to hear my dad tell it, his military experience was mostly skiing in the Alps, drinking beer and chasing frauleins.
He loved his family - we always knew that - and whilst he and my mum struggled at times financially and otherwise, he stayed with it, grew a successful business and retired at 72 with something left in the tank. Mum and Dad stayed together when so many others did not - and THAT is the greatest gift they gave us. He taught me to stick it out, work on the challenges you face, including those you self-create and keep focused on the Big Picture. My parents are gone now - but the three kids they raised produced 2 marriages with a combined tenure of 65 years and counting, four grandkids (and great-granddaughter on the way) plus a Jesuit Priest who has tackled his remit with grace, compassion altruism.
Everything I am and have I owe to my parents. Good on ya, mum and dad.
As a product of the Depression & World War II, my dad instilled in me a work ethic, self sufficiency, risk taking and the ability to think beyond my immediate situation. He made life easy for me relative to his own upbringing.
Great stuff! My dad and I didn't really get close until I was in my 30s. Once he decided I was going to "make it," he was always there with support and advice.
My Dad was a simple hardworking man who grew up in the Depression era..he use to say Life give you nothing for free but does provide you with opportunities...grab one and run with it
Space is too short here but honesty, integrity, do what you say you'll do and help others are characteristics I carry to this day.
Excellent! Happy Father’s Day!
I never knew my father. My parents divorced when I was 3. I grew up in a single family home, then married a wonderful man who also came from a bit of a dysfunctional family.
He is the best father & now grandpa. He says he wanted to be the kind of father he never had.
I often wanted to contact & connect with my father but…I never did. I hold no grudges I do however have regrets.
We cannot control how wonderful or awful our parents are. We can only strive to be the best mother or father to our own children & love them unconditionally.
Today is our youngest son’s first Father’s Day, he is an awesome father & da da❤️
While we may recall a bit of wisdom or advice provided by our dads, probably the most significant thing for me was that he stayed married to my mother. They were a "package influence," and that would not have been possible if either of them had bailed out due to perceived slights of the other.
My father was in and out of my life and has since passed. Respected the man for giving me life....
My two Mothers, Aunts, Sisters, Brothers and a couple Uncles and lots of cousins helped raise me.
They were all tough on me, yet supportive when I needed it.
It takes a community sometimes.
Thank you Jon, great article.
Thanks John - this is great encouragement to those of us fathers and grandfathers. I had the great pleasure to take my 6 year-old grandson to his first Duck game and last week to his first Dodger game. Sports is such a great way to build a relationship whose foundation is love. Please keep up the great work; looking deeper at the real meaning of life.
BTW, I’ve got a great John Wooden story for you sometime!
….Mike in Fairview
My dad was a fish counter in Alaska alone in the wilderness at 16. At 18, he joined the Navy and after his initial tour he worked for Tektronix for years while maintaining his service in the Naval Reserves for 33 years. In the 80's he ran for Secretary of State against eventual Governor Barbara Roberts. I grew up poor in a trailer, but he made sure I knew that a lack of privilege meant nothing if you had dreams and worked hard. He died too young but I think of him and the example he showed me all the time.
Another good column John. Loved all the memories. Shows how important fathers are to all of us. Thanks
Nice to see I'm not the only one whose father survived the Great Depression and became a wonderful father. My dad was, without question, the classiest man I've ever met. He was so kind, so generous and so loving to me, his only child. Everything I've accomplished in life can directly or indirectly be tied into growing up with such wonderful parents.
If repeating it a hundred times means it's your favorite saying, my father's was "if you want to double your money, fold it in half and put it back in your wallet." So of the many things he taught me, the value of a dollar and its inherent responsibilities has to be tops of a long list. He passed 26 years ago--I still miss him.
My dad passed when I was 11. I was lucky to have others to have mentor me and help me along. I have done that for my kids and now grandkids. Be there, be supportive, show unconditional love. I have raised amazing human beings and today am proud to be called dad.
My pop was born in Myrtle Point, Oregon in 1928, lived on a farm with no electricity or running water. His dad was a logger, and my dad followed him into the profession at an age you could not legally do now. Dad used his earnings from working in the woods to get to the University of Oregon where he majored in Drama and played clarinet in a Tommy Dorsey style big band. He also attended UO Law though never practiced. He was drafted for WWII but the war ended before he saw combat. They sent him to Germany to assist with post-war stuff but to hear my dad tell it, his military experience was mostly skiing in the Alps, drinking beer and chasing frauleins.
He loved his family - we always knew that - and whilst he and my mum struggled at times financially and otherwise, he stayed with it, grew a successful business and retired at 72 with something left in the tank. Mum and Dad stayed together when so many others did not - and THAT is the greatest gift they gave us. He taught me to stick it out, work on the challenges you face, including those you self-create and keep focused on the Big Picture. My parents are gone now - but the three kids they raised produced 2 marriages with a combined tenure of 65 years and counting, four grandkids (and great-granddaughter on the way) plus a Jesuit Priest who has tackled his remit with grace, compassion altruism.
Everything I am and have I owe to my parents. Good on ya, mum and dad.
Thanks for your messages.
My dad was a WW2 vet and was a prosecutor at the Tokyo War Crime Trials. I was born in Tokyo and have always been surrounded by their art.
Dad was totally supportive of his boys and, yes, we experienced the Belt.
We learned to be good people as best we could.
I continue to pass on those values(no Belt) to my kids and grandkids.
Love and support your family as best you can. 👍🏽