Happy Father's Day

Bruce Feiler has an especially compelling story to share this day.  Once there, watch his TED talk and read his piece on Daddy bashing.

Rob Rummel-Hudson's book, Schuyler's Monster, tells the story of a family walking an unexpected path.  They're in the thick of it still and he has excellent thoughts on fathering.

Randy Pausch passed away nearly two years ago.  He remains a giant in the category of dads.  If you haven't already seen it, his "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon is worth your time - scroll down once you're there.

Each of these men is a little larger than life because (in my opinion) of their ability and willingness to be articulate about things so large and heavy as to be nearly unbearable and unfathomable.  Which is the secret, I think, of good dads everywhere, most of whom are carrying on quietly and couldn't care less about anything but their families: showing up is the thing.  Bringing your A game even if you have to make it up with spit and baling twine.  If the A game is unavailable, whatever one has is brought and the rest is sheer force of will.  The desire to really be there informs their speech and thought and other relationships.  And we are all infinitely better for it.

(Rob inspired me.  Good moms work at being so, and I'm inferring, based on Rob's comments about parents, that good dads do too.  I think there's plenty of evidence to support this notion, but as you may have noticed, I'm not a dad, so it's still an assumption on my part.)

A cheer for good daddies, then.  And you should probably go hug yours.

XO.