My dad.
He was never given a college education.
In fact, he was never given anything.
Everything my father did or had was because he eaked it out of the American Dream one trial, one failure, one success at a time.
Born to a stay-at-home mother and a walking mailman, my father worked a job as young as the age of eight. In high school, when his father began a small town bakery, he worked all night baking fresh bread and went to school where he excelled academically due to a natural genius. In 11th grade, his teacher gave him an F in Calculus– even though his every homework, quiz and test never scored beneath an A+.
Confused, he confronted the teacher after school. She answered him simply and the exchange was something that forged my father into the success he would later become.
“Wally,” said the teacher, “I gave you an F not because your grades warranted it, but because you didn’t actually have to put any effort in to get those A’s. Not once did you consider asking me for more difficult coursework nor did you seek to help other students who were struggling in the class. Your effort was nothing, so your grade reflects that.”
Humbled, my father took her message to heart. Over the summer he not only repeated the class but asked the teacher for more difficult courses and helped other struggling students understand the principles of math. It was that encounter that taught him to strive harder than what is required and ultimately become better, harder, faster, and help those around you succeed.
My father was a success and his hard earned lessons from growing up poor and then later in the Marine Corps are what made him the man I came to call Ol’ Griz. He was a bear of a man to deal with (especially for a feisty teenager like me) but as soon as I said “Daddy” and called him my teddy bear he would melt and give me whatever I asked for. He spoiled me rotten as a child. He always listened with his eyes searching for the catch, waiting for the excuse, or looking for the last word. He never let me get away with ANYTHING and he taught me to never say, “I can’t.”
He drove his cars for at least 20 years before he would consider buying a new one. He paid cash for everything. He only bought American products. And he loved watching A Team, Rockford Files and his beloved Dallas Cowboys.
And I miss him every day.
Happy Father’s Day up in heaven ya Ol’ Griz. I hope I’m making you proud down here and Semper Fi to the Marine of my heart.
Angel Guthrie Jenisch says
This is a blessing! You beautifully articilated who your dad was & what he was about. A good, teachable & honorable man who raised a daughter of good character. My daddy has been with Jesus for a little more than 29 years & I would pay a fortune to spend just an hour with him. I miss that man & would love for all 10 of my kids to know his larger than life personality & solid integrity.
Lilly Morison says
Lyette Reback, that photo is the most beautiful of both of you. You are both so happy.
It so touches my heart that we have found each other after all these years.
You are blessed because indeed, your “teddy bear”, daddy watches over you every day and night.
I am so proud to have known you, your mom and dad.
Surely, you as a family affected the course of my life in my most vulnerable of times, a young adult.
Happy father’s day to Wally <3