winds unexpected

Ambivalent. What a great word. Say it out loud. You know you want to. Or maybe you're ambivalent about words in general. Lately I have felt ambivalent about blogging. Living life has seemed more interesting to me than writing about living life. So the fate of Winds Unexpected remains ambiguous (another one of my favorite words, this is a good night for gratuitous word-slinging. And yes, I like gratuitous too. Ooooh, life is good. Really good.)

The blog may stay alive simply to provide me a place to use really cool four-syllable words. OK, so call me a total dork, but I love words. Love. Confession: I dream of reading the dictionary cover to cover. It would be fun. Really. Scombroid, intumescence, dahoon. See what I mean? Try it. Kedge, mungo, trunion. Looks like Winds Unexpected stays, at least until I feel unequivocally "done" with it. Right now I'm just mostly done.

Indulge me in a whim though, please. Overcome your ambivalence long enough to share a couple of your favorite words in a Comment. I promise I will say them out loud in your honor. Go ahead.

And in the name of word-dork solidarity, here's a word-of-the-day challenge. Use the following word in the next 48 hours (in a logically sound sentence during conversation with a real person.) The word is: profligate. Go for it, my friends, and return and report.

1. “The Lord only made a few perfect heads. The rest He put hair on.” Bald is beautiful.

2. “You can’t take it with you.” Success is not measured by how much stuff one accumulates.

3. “Jerie, pick up your feet.” On backpacking trips and in life you miss a lot if you keep your eyes on the ground and drag your feet all the way. (And the people behind you don’t much like hiking in the cloud of dust you kick up.)

4. “I’ll eat any flavor of ice cream, as long as it’s chocolate.” Need I say more?

5. “Enough is too much already.” It’s OK to leave the margins open and allow yourself some space to simply be. Some pursuits are not worth your time and focus.

6. “Drive like everyone else on the road is an idiot.” Take responsibility. Stay alert. Don’t be one of the idiots.

7. “Take your time going and hurry back.” Nothing matters more than spending time with the people you love. Prioritize family-time, don’t just pay it lip service.

8. “Life’s too short.” To worry. Or hold a grudge. To criticize or let the sun go down on an argument. To live in fear or be a slave to the opinions of others. To waste time or squander opportunities. To not say “I love you” or dance in the living room or speak a kind word. For cynicism, doubt and smallness of spirit. To eat red licorice when there’s black to be had. To not laugh every day and pray every day and take a nap when you need one

1. The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree. Dad—I want to be like you when I grow up. I hope I never roll far from the roots that nourished me or the lovely shade of your generosity, your faith, your wisdom, your integrity, your intelligence and good humor. You never lectured me, you simply lived the lessons I needed. Thank you for being a truly exquisite human being. And my Dad. I miss you. Thank heaven for eternity, because I’ll never be done learning from you. Happy Father’s Day. I love you.

What lessons, spoken or unspoken, have you learned from the father-figures in your life?

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Tags: Father's Day

« A Question of Focus

Room to Breathe »

19 Responses to “Eight Things I Learned From My Dad and One Thing I Hope Is True”

Doug Lim 15. Jun, 2011 at 9:31 am #

Very beautiful and well said. We all miss your dad Jerie.
- Jerie 15. Jun, 2011 at 1:19 pm #
  
  Thanks, Doug. We are both blessed with amazing parents, aren’t we?
Craig 15. Jun, 2011 at 12:51 pm #

.
1. You see that ditch? You get to dig it. If you do it well, you might get paid next time.
2. Everyone has too much potential to waste on McDonald’s and television…
3. …but Miller Time is a universal principle.
4. Bald is a little prettier with a tan and a good attitude.
5. Pain really is temporary, and chicks really do dig scars.
6. It doesn’t matter who started it, you’re responsible. Get the solution.
7. Wow, Jerie has hot sisters, or daughters, or cousins or whatever.
- Jerie 15. Jun, 2011 at 1:33 pm #
  
  Hee hee. So true–everything looks better with a tan, even cellulite. #6–we need your Dad in Washington, eh? #7–my daughters, three of the most amazing people on this planet.
  - Craig 15. Jun, 2011 at 2:19 pm #
    
    to your credit, I thought they were sisters.
    - Craig 15. Jun, 2011 at 2:19 pm #
      
      I mean YOUR sisters
    - Jerie 15. Jun, 2011 at 4:24 pm #
      
      You are my new best friend–keep talking.
Julie 15. Jun, 2011 at 1:26 pm #

Too many to list. I’ve been blessed with the very best father and grandfathers. Dad showed me that nothing is more important than integrity. I think he learned it from his dad.
- Jerie 15. Jun, 2011 at 4:26 pm #
  
  We are the lucky ones, aren’t we?
heather y. 15. Jun, 2011 at 2:16 pm #

Your Dad is awesomely handsome and you should seriously consider putting his words of wisdom on a t-shirt. I am envisioning it starting small, with family and friends sporting the look then it catching on like wildfire because it is all so, so true.

I’ll take mine in brick red with white letters, extra large.
- Jerie 15. Jun, 2011 at 4:30 pm #
  
  Got it. Your t-shirt will be in the first batch. My Dad was just a couple of months shy of 85 years old in that picture. He was amazing right up to end. I’ve got good genes!
JourneyBeyondSurvival 15. Jun, 2011 at 2:41 pm #

1. Know your capabilities- Do what you gotta do to take care of you and yours. But don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Be honest with yourself.

2. Family is worth it. If you can’t make it through University, work as a deliveryman. Work hard. Work hard for 25 years. Go camping for every vacation. Never have AC in your life. Never.

3. Everything tastes better when camping. Sleep outside as much as possible. Cook in Dutch ovens. Use porta potties

4. Babies are heaven. Never needs an explanation if you know my father.
- heather y. 15. Jun, 2011 at 9:33 pm #
  
  Please tell me your Dad lives where there are mountains to go camping in. The one thing I will never get used to is camping in the mid-west. There is no escaping the heat and humidity! Of course, you also said your dad doesn’t have air conditioning, so he has already proven he is immune to heat rash. Very tough man.
  
  Who doesn’t love a man who loves babies? That is touching.
  - Craig 16. Jun, 2011 at 12:19 pm #
    
    Don’t you know? You’re supposed to grow gills, become immune to mosquitoes, and spend your days camping by the lake — whereupon you spend every possible daylight hour bathed is cool, muddy water. Like a water moccasin.
Jerie 15. Jun, 2011 at 4:40 pm #

I love your Dad!!! Camping = heaven. Dutch ovens = favorite. He sounds awesome. Can I share your Dad? I miss mine.
- JourneyBeyondSurvival 15. Jun, 2011 at 8:42 pm #
  
  You shall come join our camping reunion in July. He will make his famous Dutch Oven Potatoes. Red skin new potatoes (skin on of course) + eggs + insane amounts of Velveeta cheese.
  
  My mother will make her world famous cobbler, and my dad will probably con us all into making hand cranked ice cream. Again.
  
  We’ll all explode nice and comfy together becoming gooey juicey brothers instead of blood brothers. It’ll be fun.
  - Jerie 15. Jun, 2011 at 9:51 pm #
    
    I’m in.
Kathryn 15. Jun, 2011 at 10:48 pm #

“Love the brick!” (my grandfather was a bricklayer) — work hard, love the work you do and you will do it better and live a longer happier life. You’ll find your own heaven on earth no matter what you do.
- Jerie 16. Jun, 2011 at 12:04 am #
  
  I love that. Those three words are deceptively simple.They actually indicate a profound attitude on your grandfather’s part. I wish I knew him.