Happy Father’s Day

by contributing editor Grant

Since it is Father’s Day, I give myself permission to make myself sound good in this post. If you don’t agree, wait to read the blog next week and I’m sure I’ll have something more truthful, more realistic, more in character to share.

Several weeks ago, Jocelyn and the girls came to visit me at work. Jocelyn picked up a little lunch and we sat down in my office to eat. During quarters that I have several night classes a week we try to get together for lunch at least a few times.

Both Eleanor and Phaedra have visited my office ever since they were born, so, needless to say, they feel like they own the place. It doesn’t help that everyone there thinks they are super adorable (can you disagree?); nor does it help that they are both rather gregarious, confident kids. When they arrive, they walk in, say hello to everyone, help themselves to cups, and cups, and cups of water, find the candy bowls, and basically wander the place looking for anything interesting to a five or two-year-old.

On this particular lunch date, Eleanor found a pad of sticky notes and a pencil. All during lunch she sat and “wrote” note after note. She was quietly concentrating on each note, which made for a pleasant lunch for Jocelyn and me. After lunch she proceeded to wander around the office sticking the notes she “wrote” all over: on doors, my desk, file drawers, whiteboards, my dean’s door, the computers…everywhere.

As usual, the lunch hour (and a little beyond) passed far to fast, it was time to say goodbye and get back to work. As typically happens, many of my co-workers gathered to also say farewell to the girls. It finally occurred to me to ask Eleanor what she had been writing on the sticky notes. She proceeded to walk around pointing at various notes and “reading” them to me. Each note was different, but here is the general message on each note:

Daddy,

We love you! Thank you for going to work and taking care of our family. You work hard so that we have things like my toys and food. You love Eleanor, and Phaedra, and Mommy. Do good at school and drive carefully. Thank you for being our Daddy!

I nearly cried. Happy Father’s Day!