My Dad

My Dad turned 71 years old on May 26th. To celebrate, my wife, son, and I took my Dad and Mom to a local restaurant for wings, something he had only once before. During dinner I interrogated my Dad; asking questions about his childhood, life on the farm, school, and enlisting in the Air Force. I joked with my Dad that I knew he had no friends growing up because he did not have a Facebook page. Through all of the conversation though it reminded me how different his life was from mine, and how different the children of today are living.

My Dad was born in a farm house, not a hospital. My Grandmother did not worry about insurance; she had my Dad anyway. Living in a wooden house on 200-acres in Scandia, Minnesota the family raised crops, milking cows, pigs, and poultry. My Dad was expected to help on the farm before and after school, he had no cell phone, no computer, and did not have television until he was 14. To get to school he walked, in the snow, nearly two miles. By comparison, his grandchildren get a ride everyday in an air-conditioned car to the doorsteps of school, watch endless hours of television, have cell phones, and have minimal chores.

My Dad has lived through 13 presidencies, from Roosevelt to Obama. He has worked a variety of jobs, had careers, and struggled with recessions. I cannot imagine the amount of money he has paid in taxes, well over a million dollars, and now he reaps the benefit of a broken Social Security and questionable Medicare system. Once he collected unemployment for a few weeks in the recession of 1981, but has given far more than he will ever receive.

My Dad never expected anyone to give something to him for nothing, and he taught me the same. He inspired me to work hard, be true to my word, and have integrity. My Dad worked hard to have bigger homes, new cars and “stuff”. My Dad does not see life as a lottery; with some people luckier than others. Sadly, our country seems to have an opposite view where government is considered the better choice over private business, subsidizing those who choose not to work so they can have “stuff”, and mocking people like my Dad for his values, integrity, and hard work.