A Place to Celebrate Father’s Day

Today we celebrate Father’s Day. Most of us will stop and reflect on personal experiences we have had with our “Fathers” and for anyone luck enough to be one, it is perhaps a time to bask in a moment of celebration.  I am proud to say that my success as a father is by far the greatest achievement of my life!

The Online Etymology Dictionary on “father” states:

Old English fæder "he who begets a child, nearest male ancestor;" also "any lineal male ancestor; the Supreme Being," and by late Old English, "one who exercises parental care over another," from Proto-Germanic *fader (source also of Old Saxon fadar, Old Frisian feder, Dutch vader, Old Norse faðir, Old High German fatar, German vater; in Gothic usually expressed by atta), from PIE *pəter- "father" (source also of Sanskrit pitar-, Greek pater, Latin pater, Old Persian pita, Old Irish athir "father"), presumably from baby-speak sound "pa." The ending formerly was regarded as an agent-noun affix.

 

How many people do you know that call their father “father”? Probably not many, for it is too formal.  I prefer Dad.  After all, DaD is a palindrome. If you observe him “coming or going” he looks the same.  It is my intention to look at my two favorite Dads: one that has passed, and one that is in the first stages of the journey.

Being born in 1952, I grew up during the Father Knows Best years. 

It was a time of growing prosperity in America when hard working lower middle class men had the possibility of raising the standard of living for their families.  The father worked long hours and the “house wife” stayed home and dealt with the upbringing of the children.  The father was the family disciplinarian and had the final word on all matters.  It was in this context that my relationship to my Dad was formed.  Even though we didn’t spend much time together, I knew I was loved and the necessities of life were provided for me.  As a child, my fondest memories of Dad often took place on Saturday mornings when I had an opportunity to interact with him.

Dad holding his son "Corb", Mother at his side.

Dad-Best Man at my wedding 

On January 1, 1987, my son Simon was born.  I was 34 years old.  From that day until the present, my life has been blessed by the many interactive experiences I have had with him.  My memories are filled with uncountable joyous moments: the first time I held him in my arms; watching him push a toddler’s train; teaching him the basic skills of baseball; playing catch; watching him pitch in Cooperstown; watching him achieve “the Most Valuable Player” of his high school team; participating in his Master’s degree graduation event; being the celebrant in his wedding; observing him develop into a responsible adult; and being present immediately following the birth of his identical twin daughters.  Thanks Bud.  I love you!

Holding Simon on 1/1/87

Simon pitching in Cooperstown in 1999

Simon with his new born twin daughters

As a Dad, I am doubly blessed.  On November 23, 1989, Caroline Elizabeth Robinson Woliver was born.  Caroline has enriched my life in countless ways since that day.  One hears about the unique bond that exists between a father and a daughter, and the bond that I have with Caroline is the essence of paternal love.  I retain strong memories of snuggling with her at bedtime when she was a toddler; playing “tickle hound” with her; watching her achieve on the soccer field and on the volleyball court; listening to her sing at home and perform roles on the lyric stage; dancing with her at various occasions; watching her graduate from college; observing her achievements as a loving young professional; and walking her down the aisle at her wedding.  I will never tire of her loving hugs!  Thanks Caroline[y].  I love you!

My "Caroliney"

Caroline, front & center, in The Sound of Music

Dancing with Dad

Caroline at her college graduation

Walking down the aisle

Wikipedia defines lineage as:

Lineage (anthropology), a group that can demonstrate their common descent from an apical ancestor or a direct line of descent from an ancestor. Lineage (evolution), a temporal sequence of individuals, populations or species representing a continuous line of descent.

I remember what my Dad (Charles) said the day his Dad (Ernest) died, “Today I lost my best friend.” I am blessed to remember my Papaw Woliver.  He had four sons, no daughters: E.L., Hoyt, Charles, and Hubert. My Dad had three sons, no daughters: myself (Charles Patrick), Kim, and Adam.  I am father to one son and one daughter: Simon and Caroline.  Simon is father to two identical twin daughters: Joy and Eva.

My Papaw: Ernest W. Woliver

My Dad and Simon eye-to-eye

Simon and I at a Brave's game

Simon with his girls

I leave you with this poem by David Lewis Paget

Father and Son

There is the family photograph
That is your father’s face, 
There is your father’s father
Grey-gathering years apace; 
The son, bright-eyed in the morning, 
The father, lined and drawn, 
The son became the father
On the day that you were born.

We’ve all set out on the highway
Our fathers wished us well, 
The sons became the fathers
In the same distinctive spell; 
The road of all beginnings
Is all there is to lend, 
But many a twist, and many a turn
Has marred us at the end.

He was my father’s father, 
I am my father’s son, 
We’ve travelled as far, and farther
Than our father’s years have run; 
The twists and turns of fortune
Mean nothing, lost or won, 
But the love of a father’s father, 
And the love of a father’s son.

            -David Lewis Paget

Happy Father’s Day!

CPW