The Mother Lode

20 years ago on a crisp Montana morning, Jay and I got married.  It was such a wonderful day and I remember clinging to every second of the day knowing how quickly it would fly by.  (I also remember considering myself an “older” bride at 24.  Ha.)

Little did I know that those feelings of time flying by was just a precursor to 20 years disappearing in a wink.   It’s also amazing to look back at how our love and relationship have changed and grown.  Those first giddy feelings of love  pale in light of the love we enjoy to day.  It’s the tough love that’s been forged by years of leanness, fussy babies, vehicle breakdowns.  But also plenty of laughter and happy memories.  (Like last night when we watched a Spanish “novella” substituting  English dialog for the words.  We were all howling. You should try it sometime…just keep the remote handy.)

Another 20 years wouldn’t be enough to time to discover the treasure I see in Jay.  Or another 100 years for that matter.  He’s my calm rescuer when the “check engine” light comes on, a faithful provider and a darn good Dad too.

Which is why I thought I’d post this poem today.

Only a Dad

Edgar Guest celebrates the importance of the role of an ordinary Dad.

by Edgar Guest

Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad but he gives his all,
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.

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