- ‘… I shall return,’ by General MacArthur- “My daddy was a high school and college American history teacher for 42 years! And I had him as my teacher twice! 😂 So, I’ve always been surrounded by history, it also becoming a love of mine, learning about the amazingness of the world. My dad never bragged about being a teacher, but sometimes in his daily life, it’d sneak in. One of his most common ways he’d do this is when he’d leave, he would look at us and say: ‘In the words of General MacArthur…’ Then we’d finish: ‘You shall return.’ I was skittish growing up (and still am,) so this was a simple, but special way to remind us dad would return home to us safe while combining his love for history. When he’d return, I’d often jump when the door would slam. He’d call out jokingly, “It’s the bogey-man. Oh-gah-boo-gah!” To help me relax.”
- ‘Go, go, Power Rangers!’- “Again, parents really show how much they love you when they watch movies and shows they don’t want to or go to kiddie events. Dad recalls many (he still scowls at me how when I was 2 or 3 one summer I made him watch ‘Mary Poppins’ three times a day!) I appreciate him letting us grow up with so many fantastic shows that became apart of Miles and me. His favorite he didn’t mind watching with us was our beloved ‘Power Rangers.” He liked the action. He still sings the song and does fake punches! He would also do a really terrible Pikachu voice and make fun of Pokemon, lol! Sunglasses Squirtle was his favorite.
- ‘Will you two stop pounding on each other?!’- “Ah! So, I’m sure this will shock everyone, but siblings fight! Lol! Miles and I were no exception. We never did physical roughhousing but more yelling and arguing. I had a tell that meant I had enough (I’m very patient, but Miles knew how to push my buttons, lol.) I would say ‘I’m going to pound you…’ Dad told me when I became an adult, he’d always listen to us and he knew when I said that, he’d have to get out of his favorite green plush chair and go check on us…but laugh about it first. Daddies just seem to know how to break up the conflict. Or at least try.)”
- Just because I have an opinion doesn’t mean I’m forced to share it,- “My daddy is very intelligent in a simple classic way. I admire that so much about him. He tells me he might not teach me much about life, but he will make what he does is worth it. One that always surprises people when sweet, people-pleasing me says it that he taught me is: ‘Just because I have an opinion, doesn’t mean I have to share it.’ Okay! I might get a little preachy here. I’m so blessed we have free speech. But I think sometimes, we’ve grown to assume we HAVE to share what we think about everything. Sometimes, I don’t want to get into an argument. Sometimes I don’t want to hurt feelings. And sometimes, to be frank, I don’t want to share my thoughts. I have them, but I have a right to keep them to myself and be passionate about them in my own way. I get a lot of backlash for this, but I’m glad my dad taught me this powerful way to be productive and myself.”
- Never turn down free food!- “Another amazing piece of life advance from dear ole dad. Never turn down free food. I feel this explains itself, lol! But, it also reminds me what a provider dad was for me. I never had to worry about going hungry and not having some money when hanging with friends or going on outings (he never wanted me not to be embarrassed about not having something, even if it was small, which meant so much.)”
- It’s an indoor job with no heavy lifting- “I always wanted to be a teacher because I had a fifth-grade teacher who was warm, understanding, and professional, Ms. Mahan, who said I had the compassion to work with kids. I loved playing school with my little cousins. But, deep down, I also wanted to be like my dad and follow his education path. My dad always warned me about the after-work hours, duties, lesson plans, grading, and hidden stressors they do not educate you about education. He also told me to never teach high school like him! 😂 although he liked teaching, he wasn’t flashy. Just honest. Like this statement on the perks of being an educator. It’s true!”
- Get out of my chair!- “I think every dad has a special chair or spot, especially to ‘I’m not napping; I’m only closing my eyes for ten minutes!’ My dad did, a forest green recliner when called his “Archie Chair,” named after the gag from “All in the Family.” And we weren’t allowed to sit in it. If we got permission, it was a big deal! And the dogs and cats loved to cuddle with Dad when he’d relax to watch TV in it or sleep. It’s a clique, but an important link to memories all the same.”
- ‘What do you call Batman and Robin when you run over them?’ ‘Flatman and Ribbon!-‘ “Oh my! Dad jokes. Another clique. A rite of passage. My dad often tries humor, but he is a fan of dad jokes. This one though was his go-to. We roll our eyes at it now after decades of hearing it, but we still give him a chuckle and like to share it with others for their reactions. I really love hearing my dad’s short, hardy laugh when he gets tickled too.”
- It better not cost me any money!- “My dad isn’t a penny pincher, but he has no desire to get lavish things. Everything has to be practical, including our Christmas gifts (not great as a kid, but I’m grateful for now. Socks! Lol!) But Dad did chores and showed us numerous other loving ways to show how much we meant without making it cost a lot of money. I appreciate his values.”
- You’re out of the will!- “This is something my dad has always said when one of us screwed up or bugged him, always minor things. We’d laugh it off and ask “With what money and goods do you have a will for?” It’s a goofy bond between the three of us we still use (I’ve been out of the will less than 20 times. Miles…psst! I can’t count that high!) But Dad plans ahead for his future and ours, the most important things to him he says, and that devotion to love and planning, joking and not, is precious. Plus, with a will, I get to show my pride as a Straughan.
- I’m also grateful for when my dad says he’s proud of me. I know he is, but he’s an old-school classy guy so when he says it, I know it comes from his heart.
- He also is so warm and good with animals and he is our eternal driver, Miles even jokes when he gets in the backseat, referring to Dad, “Home James!” LOL!
Thank someone you care for! Stay your nerdy selves! 🙂
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Educator of young minds by day, super nerdy savior of justice, and cute things by night, Morgan Straughan Comnick has a love for turning the normal into something special without losing its essence. Morgan draws from real-life experiences and her ongoing imagination to spark her writing. In her spare time, she enjoys doing goofy voices, traveling to new worlds by turning pages, humming child-like songs, and forcing people to smile with her “bubbliness.” It is Morgan’s mission in life to spread the amazement of otaku/Japanese culture to the world and to stop bullying; she knows everyone shines brightly.
For more information about Morgan and her works, check out her website, which also has links to all her social medias: http://morganscomnick.com
