It’s Father’s Day here at Answer Me This! And, um, all other places in America. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Here are THIS WEEK’s questions . . .
1. What’s the best thing about your dad?
My favorite things about my dad are his indomitable positive attitude and can do spirit, and his extraordinary patience with and confidence in his kids and grandkids.
Related to the above, I also love all the amazing stuff he builds for us.
Coolest yet is the Boomerang Zip-line that he has helped Jack build, apply for a patent for, and market. Being an engineer and an inventor just like his grandad is Jack’s dream.
2.
If you’ve got kids, what’s the best thing about THEIR dad? (If you
don’t, feel free to substitute your grandfather or another father
figure.)
My favorite things about my husband are his constancy, his knack for knowing the right thing to do in a particular situation, his impeccable comedic timing, and the fact that he will always answer his phone if I call twice in a row, even though he’s busy at work and he must know it’s just going to be me not remembering which way I’m supposed to go on the 405 to get home if the GPS is being weird.
3. What’s the best advice your dad ever gave you?
My dad has given me lots of good advice over the years, but my answer to question number two reminds me of the time my dad patiently explained to seventeen year old me that to leave one’s house to go to one destination, and then, if one needs to go to a second destination, to drive all the way home because that’s the only way you know how to find the second destination . . . is not a really good use of time or gasoline.
He really did try to teach me how to use the Thomas Guide. But it just wasn’t going to happen. I was pretty much always lost until there was GPS, and now I’m only lost like 23% of the time. It’s quite an improvement.
4. What’s something you have in common with your dad?
Confidence (which sometimes can turn out to have been recklessness). My grandfather has it, my dad has it, my oldest son has it, and I’ve got it. We’re just willing to try stuff, and we figure it’s going to work out somehow.
I married myself a relatively cautious fella, though, to keep an eye on me.
5. What’s the manliest thing you know how to do?
My dad once talked me through changing the wax ring on my toilet . . . over the phone. And I can do a few pretty solid push-ups, when there’s not a bump in the way.
I’m currently a lot like this, but opposite . . .
6. Who is your favorite fictional dad?
I have a soft spot for Mr. Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. I know he fails Lydia. But I’ve always liked how he respects Lizzie and how he really does seem to be the only person who can stand his own wife, even though he teases her.
And how great is the dad from Owl Moon
? Staying up all night wandering in the forest hooting at owls with your dad? That’s pretty cool.
Want to play along? Answer THIS WEEK’s questions in the comments, or
on your blog and link it up below! Please include a link to this post on
your blog. The linkup will be open from now through close of business
Tuesday.
Now for NEXT WEEK’s questions, to answer NEXT WEEK . . .
1. How long have you lived in your current home?
2. How do you find out about news and current events?
3. Would you be able to make change for a twenty right now? For a dollar?
4. What’s the craziest food you’ve ever eaten?
5. Which of the commonly removed parts have you had removed? (tonsils, wisdom teeth, appendix, etc.)
6. What’s your favorite sport to watch on TV?
PS: Father’s Day is a few days away! Shop now!
mmh, not sure about Mr Bennet… Even Elizabeth has to acknowledge that he did wrong in ridiculing their mother in front of them when they were growing up. And I agree, he is basically only a good dad to Lizzie… (I think I may have too many opinions about Jane Austen characters) 🙂
Oh my word, you really did drive home in order to find your second destination? What a patient dad you have.
Being able to change a toilet ring is impressive!
Ha! I was almost going to put replacing a toilet as my manliest thing – and my dad taught me how (over the phone), too!
A couple weeks ago, I changed a door knob by myself, and I've been patting myself on the back for it every since. But pretty much all the rest of the time I'm glad to have a husband for house stuff.
My husband and his family used to do 'dry runs' where they'd go to a place they hadn't been before in advance (like the previous day) so they would know where they were going. Yeah. GPS helps them save gas now. After moving from NJ to MN, no more dry runs. Things are more spread out here and…time.
I thought of Mr. Bennet myself, just because I like him as a person, but I have to agree he doesn't do the best job as a father even though he does treat Lizzie with respect.