A Long-Distance Father's Day...

Being far from home is always the hardest during those special occasions that you can't make it home for. In my dad's case, he has his birthday, father's day and he and my mom's anniversary all within a week and a half span.

As I sat thinking about all of the special times my dad had spent with me, I thought I would jot some down; 60 in fact, for his 60th birthday :). This is for you dad, I love you!

60 memories with my dad...

1. Toasting marshmellows on a bonfire...talking about life
2. Picking me up and showing me the smell of pine trees and the changing of the leaves
3. Billy Joel greatest hits in the painting truck
4. Getting apples and picking pumpkins at Pine tree apple orchard
5. Canoeing on the st. Croix (actually, it was more like turning in circles with the boat while you tried to teach me how to paddle!)
6. Talking with fresh coffee in the morning
7. Watching you expertly maneuver the lawn mower amidst the sweet smell of freshly cut grass
8. Your calloused hands, working for my future, holding mine
9. Whistling to mom’s piano playing on a sunday afternoon
10. Setting up the tent in the back yard for camping
11. Ice fishing with you, the expert guide and worm wrangler
12. Watching your motivating force as my basketball coach...I always played my best for you
13. Family vacations filled with tour guide dad’s excursions...
1. pony rides
2. double decker bus tour
3. snow-mobiling in Arrowood, Alexandria Resort
4. sailing in Door County
5. traipsing through Norway
6. waving at Queen Elizabeth’s carriage
7. Greeting Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox
8. camping in Glacier National Park...(oh the list could continue on!)
14. Painting my toenails pretty pink
15. Practicing math at the dining room table
16. Helping me with my ‘last minute projects’...ooops!
17. Bringing home little ducks to watch in the bathtub
18. State Fair family Days...I actually owe my love of John Deere tractors to you!
19. Teaching me to play cribbage
20. Eating sunflower seeds and drinking mountain dew on car trips...I love doing that now, because it reminds me of you
21. Tea parties with Doritoes and pop
22. Raking leaves into giant jumping piles
23. Armpit tickling contests...you always let me win :)
24. Dancing to Paul Simon in the living room
25. Making you freshly baked chocolate chip cookies just to hear you oooh and aaaah
26. Eating at the Taco Shop in Moorhead....mmmmm grinders!
27. Showing you my itchweed rash in Cornwall, England
28. Countless Dr. Dad visits...you can cure just about any pain of mine!
29. Watching a scary movie, and then making you stay in your den and pay bills until I fell asleep...I needed my protective dad to stay with me in that basement!
30. Helping me pick out my first car...whew!
31. Driving with me to Des Moines Iowa; supporting my overseas job fair whim!
32. Painting with you in the summer; spending time working with my dad
33. Taking me to Vikings games...I was so proud you would choose ME to go with!
34. Sledding at the old house; whipping around as buster pulled me in the sled
35. Beaver and Moose stories while I tried to fall asleep...I loved your ‘voices’ for each character the most
36. Root Beer floats at New Year’s...what a treat!
37. Staring up into the Christmas tree and looking at all the ornaments with you
38. Traveling on a train to Montana with you...I still remember how fun it was to eat in the club car and sleep right next to you in our seats!
39. Watching you take out the video camera to capture memories...I saw things as so special, that we would want to remember it!
40. Taking golf lessons, and playing while caitlin drove the golf cart :)
41. Feeling so thankful that I had you to help me figure out car problems, college loans, hurt feelings with friends or just needing to talk; you can always help me to see things in perspective
42. Being amazed at how easy you make shoveling snow, raking leaves, trimming shrubs and generally knowing how to do things...I still have so much to learn from you!!
43. Having my first beer with you in the garage, man was I a part of the club then!
44. Helping me to give some of my easter eggs to caitlin at grandma Dorothy’s...I may have inherited a bit of your competitive nature
45. Driving to Columbus Elementary as a family; feeling so special that I got to go to school with my mom and dad...it was like growing up with so many aunts and uncles watching out for me, because of how respected you and mom are.
46. Giving Buster bathes in forest lake, and driving home in the truck, giving him a dairy queen cone :)
47. Playing my little ponies with me; giving me all the time in the world :)
48. Biking through Lansboro, MN; eating magnificent pie at a roadside stand; making family trips so much fun.
49. Carving pumpkins each Halloween; lighting them to see their faces in the dark...I love the smell of freshly carved pumpkins and our excitement over the experience of the season!
50. Teaching me how to balance my checkbook and how to budget money...it’s not how much you make, it’s how much you save! Thanks Dad and Grandpa Walt :)
51. Family dinners, where you say the family prayer and we all talk about our days
52. Exuding patience when I indeed forgot something at school for the 3rd time in a week...and then driving me up to school, where you inevitably were buds with all the janitors (Columbus, Central JH and FLHS!), shooting the breeze as I grabbed my things.
53. Sending me cards at college, valentines growing up, cute birthday cards...and words of encouragement when I am struggling...thanks dad :)
54. Trips to the Como Zoo and riding the rides until you looked a bit green...what you and mom would do for us!
55. Helping me look through the trash can when I lost my retainer; not even getting that mad at me!
56. Always giving me a hug and saying you love me; I love you too dad.
57. Taking me to the grocery store when I started teaching; getting me the essentials :)
58. Watching funny movies with just you and me...Caddy Shack, Griswold Vacations, Planes Trains and Automobiles; Houseguest...I love to hear you laugh really hard at something :)
59. Listen to you talk about my poopy diapers as a baby...I know you actually thought it was funny, now looking back :)
60. Knowing that our family is so strong because you and mom love each other so much...you have made my life so happy and blessed with love.