Random acts of kindness are the way to go
Seriously, my father is the master of this. He once cooked a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and OJ for a life guard at the beach. The life guard thought it was unusual, to be sure, but he did not turn it down.
Doing things for others feels far better than taking things from them
I still remember bringing Tracy home and telling her to ask my father to make her a burger. She said, "I'm not randomly asking your father to cook for me." I responded, "Trust me. If you ask him to cook you a burger, he'll love you forever." She decided to trust me, and I was right. I'm not sure which was better, the look of excitement in my Dad's eyes, or the look of astonishment in Tracy's.
Take your time. Relax.
My father does not run. Ever. I have never seen him move beyond a cool, leisurely pace. He also does not stand in lines. "I spent 5 years in the Navy standing in line for everything. Never again." The man knows how to avoid stress.
Teaching takes patience, and communicating on their level.
My father does not talk down to people, and especially not kids. That's one reason, other than his eggs, that so many people love him. He has an amazing talent for teaching kids to tie their shoes. I don't know how he does it, but they follow him like no other.
Always appreciate a hard day's work
My father has been a truck driver, a window washer, a janitor, and several other things. He always got his job done, and he never claimed that any job was beneath him. It always comes to my mind when I tell kids to clean up and some smart ass says "this is the janitor's job."
Storytelling is an art
My father tells stories. It's what he does. And they are never boring. Especially when they start with, "This one time, in the Navy, I wasn't supposed to be drinking but . . ." I sometimes try relaying my father's stories, but they're never nearly as funny when I say them. Damn it. And facts are kind of irrelevant. If I tell my father something mundane that happened in my day, he'll make up a far more interesting plot when he tells it to my mother.
Never underestimate a smile and a positive attitude
On the night of my high school graduation, my dad was grilling burgers and hot dogs for everyone. The boys needed no convincing, obviously, but the girls were not chowing down as much. My father wanted everyone's arteries hardening and lips dripping with grease, so I kept hearing him say "Come on, darlin', this is the best burger you'll ever have in your life." Before long, even the borderline anorexics were having hot dogs with everything. Saying no to my father is just not as easy as you'd think.
Know your strengths. Stick with what works.
My father only uses two golf clubs, a 5-iron and a putter, and he beat me every time. He will cook eggs every morning and every night, if you let him, and his eggs are phenomenal. He once told me "Just because someone invented a nail gun, it doesn't mean a hammer won't work anymore." Wise words, father. One of my father's strengths is definitely not naming children. If my mother hadn't intervened, I would either be Jesse James Schneider or Rudolph Maximilian Schneider.
Don't throw anything away
Okay, this only comes in handy sometimes. I sometimes had to go surreptitiously throw something away in my neighbor's trash can if I wanted it to be truly gone. My father has a weird desire to save absolutely everything, just in case you need it later. I can't tell you how many coolers my father has given me over the years. To be fair, I did need one every time. And he is more than happy to take care of my stuff while I'm abroad. I'm sure the 53 inch TV isn't an imposition, but the car certainly is. Would your father wash and wax your car every week while you're away? I'm talking about detailing with a toothbrush! I didn't think so. I win.
Love you, Dad.
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