Blog 15 of June

Happy Father's Day

History

Father's Day was inaugurated in the United States in the early 20th century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting.
After the success obtained by Anna Jarvis with the promotion of Mother's Day in the US, some wanted to create similar holidays for other family members, and Father's Day was the choice most likely to succeed. There were other persons in the US who independently thought of "Father's Day", but the credit for the modern holiday is often given to Sonora Dodd, who was the driving force behind its establishment.
Father's Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis' Mother's Day in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them.  Although she initially suggested June 5, her father's birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.
  There is much more to the story and you can check it out at this website:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father's_Day

 Here are a few memories of my Dad (and Dad-in-law)

  This is where my Dad was the happiest.  Out fishing; in the summer or the winter.  He built a wooden ice shack for when he was ice fishing.  This is a picture of a fish that he caught when he was ice fishing.  It was one of the largest to come out of "a particular lake, through the ice.

  I think one of his grandchildren may still have this "infamous perch.

In the summer we would pack up the trailer and head to a favorite campground.  The first trailer I remember is the one below.  It had a set of bunk beds in the back.  Robin and I would sleep on the top bunk and Mom and Dad would sleep on the bottom bunk.  One time, it was suggested (and I'm not sure by whom) that we switch bunks.  So Robin and I snuggled into the bottom and Mom and Dad struggled to climb up top.  In the middle of the night, Dad had to get up to go to the bathroom.  He forgot he was on the top bunk, so as he sat up and step off the bed, there was no floor.  Let me rephrase that, there was a floor, but it was quite a few more feet down then he remembered.  So basically he fell out of the bunk.  If the table had been set down at the other end of the trailer, he would have hit his nose (and trust me, the Zoback nose is already a remarkable size), and probably done some serious damage.  I think the trailer shook for a long time that night.  Not from the fall, but from mom laughing so hard.  

Below is a picture of a paddle boat that my Dad made.  I remember Dad and Uncle Casey riding on it, but I don't recall if I ever got to take if for a spin.  Probably not; I think I was too small at the time.  I never realized at the time how talented Dad was.

And finally here is a picture of my Dad in his younger days. This is in downtown Calgary.  We have quite a few pictures of him in a "cowboy" hat.  Handsome looking guy!!!! Love and Miss you Dad!!!

Then there is my Father-in-law

 This is a picture of Mom and Dad taken I believe some time in 1994.  He was a great Father 

And a great grandfather.  This was from Nov 2001 at Grandpa's birthday dinner.  There was always a picture with the birthday boy and his grand kids.

 Another birthday picture from October 1998.  I used to warn Patrick to not make funny faces during pictures, because they would come back to haunt him.  This is one of those times......  Thinking of you Dad on Father's Day.

Father's Day got off to a quiet start this morning.  Ashley left early for work; Ethan left for home; and Bill and I drove Patrick to the University for his course.  We then went to the cemetery to show our respect for our Dads.  Queens Park was busy today.  We visited Bill's  Mom and Dad's site first.  Did a lot of weed pulling (Dad would not like weeds)  Then we went to visit my Dad's site.  It was a little more difficult to find because the grass was quite long, and it is a flat stone.  

After we got home, Bill got his golfing stuff in order as Patrick and Ethan were taking Bill and Steve (Ethan's Dad golfing in the afternoon)  Unfortunately Ashley had to work so she will celebrate with Bill when she gets home this evening.  And the bonus for me............ It's nice and quiet in the house.

 Here are a few pictures of Ashley and Patrick with their Dad!

This is Bill and Ashley on September 29, 1989.  Ashley is 16 days old.

 This is Bill and Ashley on October 28, 1989 - Ashley is 45 days old.

 This is Bill and Patrick in April of 1993, so Patrick isn't quite a month old yet. I'm not sure why we are always comparing feet size.  We should almost do a feet comparison now with Bill and Patrick - Bill could use Patrick's shoes as boats!!!

 And this is Bill and Patrick in May of 1993.  You noticed for the second child, I don't have the exact dates.  Thankfully I have the month and year.  

Happy Father's Day Bill, you are a great Dad.  

1.   This is so true.!!!!!!