Somehow appropriate

For Father's Day, I thought I would post an excerpt from Kevin Smith's blog, it kind of fits in . Hopefully, those of us still with fathers in our lives may realize just how lucky we still are, no matter how they are still in our life.

"What follows is a partial list, in no particular order of importance, of what my Father taught me in the brief 32 years I spent as his son, his pupil, and an all-around fan.
- My Father taught me the importance of family, immediate or extended.
- My Father taught me how to be a man – and not by instilling in me a sense of machismo or an agenda of dominance. He taught me that a real man doesn’t take, he gives; he doesn’t use force, he uses logic; doesn’t play the role of trouble-maker, but rather, trouble-shooter; and most importantly, a real man is defined by what’s in his heart, not his pants.
- My Father taught me how to operate a Yo-Yo.
- By example, my Father taught me how to always strive to be the most loving husband I can possibly be. He taught me that, in marriage, the term “wife” doesn’t preclude the terms “partner”, “best friend”, or “passion”. He showed me that, even after nearly forty years of marriage, you can never be too romantic, and that there’s no shame in being hopelessly in love with your wife; the only shame is in NOT being so.
- He also taught me that - no matter what - your wife is always right. And if she’s not, allow her the illusion that she is.
- To clear his name, let me just say now that my Father never taught me a single swear word. My Mom did, but not my Father.
- My Father taught me that a Father should serve as the best example of a man as possible for his daughter. That way, she’ll never settle for anyone who’s not at least as good as her Dad.
- My Father taught me to not be judgmental, and instead, simply accept the fact that most people are idiots.
- By example, my Father taught me how to be a good brother – and that being a sibling doesn’t preclude you from being friends as well.
- My Father taught me that belief in God is only as meaningful as belief in one’s family or one’s self. To serve one and not the others is an empty gesture at best, and a betrayal of all three at worst.
- My Father taught me to weigh my words carefully, and speak up only when I had something insightful to add to the proceedings, or something really funny to say. He also taught me that if I couldn’t be that kind of guy in real life, that I could earn a healthy living pretending to be that guy in the movies – particularly when paired up with a long haired stoner.
- My Father taught me the value of quality time with one’s child – even if that quality time meant simply sacking out in front of the TV, resting your head on your Dad’s stomach, and watching “Bowling For Dollars.” This weekend, my Father taught me that there’d be no price to pay that’d be too high to be able to do that just one more time.
- My Father taught me how to pick the right girl.
- My Father taught me that it’s okay to duck out of school early every once in awhile to see a movie. The benefit is two-fold: a) the bargain matinee will save you a couple bucks, and b) there’s nothing they can teach you in school that the movies can’t teach you in two hours or less, with a few car chases and good music thrown in to boot.
- My Father taught me that family comes first, and that family isn’t necessarily limited to blood relatives only.
- My Father taught me how to feed 28 cats at once.
- My Father taught me that, every now and then, you’ve gotta hold up in your room, turn on the stereo, and sing along at the top of your lungs.
- Conversely, try as he might, my Father was never able to instill in me an appreciation for Country Music.
- My Father taught me to respect men and women alike. But women more.
- My Father taught me that if you’re ever gonna drive down to Busch Gardens in Virginia, you should first call to make sure the park is open.
- My Father taught me how to ride a bike.
- My Father taught me that it’s possible to work in the United States Post Office for 24 years, and NOT show up to work one day to blow everyone away with a sawed-off shotgun.
- My Father taught me the value of hard work, and – by rooking me into mowing my Grandmother’s ridiculously huge lawn every weekend in my early teens – the importance of getting someone else to do the hard work for you.
- My Father taught me how to love and be loved.
- My Father taught me, much to the chagrin of my wife, that when it comes to gas, rather out than in.
- My Father taught me how to drive. No, wait – Ernie O’Donnell taught me how to drive. But my Father taught me that it was okay that Ernie O’Donnell taught me how to drive. Obviously, my Father never taught me how to gracefully recover from a mistake made when speaking in public.
- My Father taught me that all dreams are possible – even if your dream is nothing more elaborate than having a wife and children who love you.
- Sadly though, the most useful lesson my Father could’ve taught me was one he never got around to imparting: and that is… how to face the rest of my life without him."

If you wish to read the whole entry go here: http://silentbobspeaks.com/?m=20050601