from One Busy Guy...                                           

    wishing you a happy

                                                                                  Papa, Daddy, Father, Dad, Pop, Pa... whatever we call him, we all have one. For most of us he is much more than merely the other 50% of our genetic make-up. So much of our society revolves around women and their maternal duties. This is the only day we give official recognition to our male parent. And unlike the fairer sex, this observance is more of a 'stay at home' and do the barbecue thing!

It seems as though ladies get 90% of the stores in any mall. We refer to ships as 'she'. If the ship should begin to sink it's 'women and children first'. Mother Ocean. Mother Nature. Mother Earth. At least men get to be Father Time. (I suspect the female anxiety about ageing for that one.) Meanwhile it was men who did the most inventing and fought in every war. And like Joseph the good carpenter (who had little to do with the birth of his own son) it was Dad who knocked together the house where you live... even if Mom makes it a home.

In the early 1900's it was Sonora Louise Smart Dodd who wanted to give honor to her own father. William Smart, a civil war veteran, raised his six children solo after losing his wife during child birth. It must truly have been a Herculean effort to raise six kids on a rural farm in the 19th century.

Mr. Smart was born in June and so the first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1909, the very month of his birth, in Spokane, Washington. However, it was not until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson officially cited the third Sunday in June as a national observance.

These are changing times for all. I think it's particularly difficult for men as gender roles become less defined. In too many households Dad is no longer the sole breadwinner. Woman have been encouraged to take control, be strong and don't take no for an answer... not a bad thing. Conversely, men are chided to 'get in touch with their sensitive side'. Be more understanding.

On behalf of Dads everywhere allow me to say how much we appreciate a little recognition. It may be 50 million sperm to each egg but at least you know who was that lucky one! Neck ties are nice but big, heartfelt hugs last forever!

           Happy Father's Day Dad!

                                 Steve