Words I never heard my dad say:

“How on earth can you see the tv sitting so far back?”

“Yeah, I used to skip school a lot too.”

“Just leave all the lights on . . . it makes the house look more cheery.”

“Let me smell that shirt. Yeah, it’s good for another week.”

“Go ahead and keep that stray dog. I’ll be glad to feed and walk him every day.”

“Go ahead and use my tools. In fact, leave them wherever you use them. I’m just happy to see you working so hard.”

“The curfew is just a general time to shoot for.”

Words I heard my dad say:

“Pick yourself up and try harder this time!”

“You have to hold your mouth just like this if you want to catch a fish.”

“Never talk back to your mother.”

“This is going to hurt me a lot more than it’s going to hurt you.”

“Is that money burning a hole in your pocket? You don’t have to spend every dime you get.”

“Say your prayers.”

“I’m proud of you son.”

Happy Father’s Day dad. And thank-you for the words you didn’t say and for the ones you did.