Happy Father’s Day!
Enjoy the ride!
Showing posts with label Father's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father's Day. Show all posts
16 June 2024
18 June 2017
Happy Father's Day!
Some parents talk about their failures in raising their children. Of course, "failure" can be defined in any number of ways: Perhaps the child didn't follow the career path the parents wanted. Or he or she married the "wrong" person or didn't get married at all--or didn't have kids. Or end up with the lifestyle the parents envisioned.
I have to say, I am guilty on all counts. My career and lifestyle are nothing like what my parents--especially my father--wanted from and for me. And, yes, I married the "wrong" person--and never married again after that. But none of that is either of my parents' fault--really.
I will, however, admit there is one area in which I've failed miserably in the making of my parents. You see, I tried to turn both of them into cyclists--even to the point of giving them bicycles as gifts for some occasion or another. I don't think my mother ever rode hers (If I recall, it was sold when my parents moved from New Jersey to Florida.) and my father may have ridden a couple of times with me. Though his bike survived the move, it, too was eventually sold.
So...I can't say that my father (or mother) and I bonded over bike riding. For that matter, if I recall correctly, I didn't learn how to ride from either of them: I got those lessons from my grandfather (who died before I turned eight) and an uncle.
I failed, but I think my parents have forgiven me by now. A lot has been forgiven, or simply written off as vodka under the bridge, as Alexandr Revva might say.
(Why did I choose him? I confess: He's one of the few Russians whose name I can spell!)
Anyway, in the spirit of father-child relationships, I offer this, from one of my favorite comic-strip series:
Happy Father's Day!
I have to say, I am guilty on all counts. My career and lifestyle are nothing like what my parents--especially my father--wanted from and for me. And, yes, I married the "wrong" person--and never married again after that. But none of that is either of my parents' fault--really.
I will, however, admit there is one area in which I've failed miserably in the making of my parents. You see, I tried to turn both of them into cyclists--even to the point of giving them bicycles as gifts for some occasion or another. I don't think my mother ever rode hers (If I recall, it was sold when my parents moved from New Jersey to Florida.) and my father may have ridden a couple of times with me. Though his bike survived the move, it, too was eventually sold.
So...I can't say that my father (or mother) and I bonded over bike riding. For that matter, if I recall correctly, I didn't learn how to ride from either of them: I got those lessons from my grandfather (who died before I turned eight) and an uncle.
I failed, but I think my parents have forgiven me by now. A lot has been forgiven, or simply written off as vodka under the bridge, as Alexandr Revva might say.
(Why did I choose him? I confess: He's one of the few Russians whose name I can spell!)
Anyway, in the spirit of father-child relationships, I offer this, from one of my favorite comic-strip series:
Happy Father's Day!
19 June 2016
A Father's Day Post For Tony Nelson and Larry Paulik
Here in the US, today is Father's Day.
I could have written this post about ties with bike motifs, or cufflinks and bracelets made from bike parts, that you could give to your father (or any man in your life) if he were a cyclist. But you probably know about those things already. Perhaps you received such a gift yourself.
Instead, I am going to dedicate this post to two particular fathers--and grandfathers: Tony Nelson and Larry Paulik.
They are two of the five cyclists who were mowed down by a pickup truck driver near Kalamazoo, Michigan. Three other cyclists, who were mothers (and, in one case, a grandmother) died with them.
I implore every driver who encounters a cyclist on the road to remember that many are fathers and mothers, and all of us have parents. In that sense, we are no different from you. Thus, being mindful of us--as we are of you--is a family issue!
I could have written this post about ties with bike motifs, or cufflinks and bracelets made from bike parts, that you could give to your father (or any man in your life) if he were a cyclist. But you probably know about those things already. Perhaps you received such a gift yourself.
Instead, I am going to dedicate this post to two particular fathers--and grandfathers: Tony Nelson and Larry Paulik.
 |
| Tony Nelson |
They are two of the five cyclists who were mowed down by a pickup truck driver near Kalamazoo, Michigan. Three other cyclists, who were mothers (and, in one case, a grandmother) died with them.
 |
| Larry Paulik |
I implore every driver who encounters a cyclist on the road to remember that many are fathers and mothers, and all of us have parents. In that sense, we are no different from you. Thus, being mindful of us--as we are of you--is a family issue!
21 June 2015
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day. I extend this wish, not only to those of you who are male parents, but to any of you who have taught a child--or any young person--important life lessons and skills.
Since you're reading this blog, you probably agree that the most important skill--or, at least, one of the most important skills is riding a bicycle. So for those of you who stayed with some kid until she or he learned how to pedal while balancing on two wheels, I offer this, from World of Wander on Etsy New Zealand:
Most of you would probably agree that one of the most important lessons is the knowledge of right from wrong. Many of you, I'm sure, learned that at least in part from your fathers:
Finally, some of you would argue that the most important thing that your fathers imparted to you--and perhaps the thing you share most as adults--is beer. (Such is not the case for my father: He--thankfully--has never been much of a drinker.) If your father loves bikes and beers, you might want to give him this:
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't end this post without mentioning the film that shows, more than any other that I am aware of, just how a bicycle can bring a father and child together.
That film, of course, is the monumental Ladri di Biciclette:
I hope that it doesn't take the theft of your, or anyone else's, bike to bring you and your father (or, for that matter, mother) together!
Since you're reading this blog, you probably agree that the most important skill--or, at least, one of the most important skills is riding a bicycle. So for those of you who stayed with some kid until she or he learned how to pedal while balancing on two wheels, I offer this, from World of Wander on Etsy New Zealand:
Most of you would probably agree that one of the most important lessons is the knowledge of right from wrong. Many of you, I'm sure, learned that at least in part from your fathers:
Finally, some of you would argue that the most important thing that your fathers imparted to you--and perhaps the thing you share most as adults--is beer. (Such is not the case for my father: He--thankfully--has never been much of a drinker.) If your father loves bikes and beers, you might want to give him this:
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't end this post without mentioning the film that shows, more than any other that I am aware of, just how a bicycle can bring a father and child together.
That film, of course, is the monumental Ladri di Biciclette:
I hope that it doesn't take the theft of your, or anyone else's, bike to bring you and your father (or, for that matter, mother) together!
15 June 2014
A Ride To Point Lookout And A Father's Day Mystery, Almost
Today I broke a promise to myself and rode to Point Lookout. It's not that I have anything against PL or the ride; i just figured traffic would be heavy on the way to the beach on a warm, sunny Father's Day.
Well, there was some traffic going over the bridges from Broad Channel to the Rockaways and Rockaway Beach to Atlantic Beach. But it wasn't as bad as I expected. I guess people had backyard barbeques (I saw a fair number of those) or celebrated in other ways.
It's interesting to see couples , usually middle-aged or older, who raised kids who've moved out. I guess once a parent, always a parent. I often see such couples on Mother's Day as well: On that day or Father's Day, it's common for one spouse to take the other out for lunch or dinner.
I wondered if one such couple was at Point Lookout when I got there:
For a moment, I didn't see anyone else, let alone a couple who might've worn those shoes. Could they have wandered out into the water only to for one of them to have a heart attack, or a memory lapse?
Fortunately, I saw them walking on a sandbar. No kid was anywhere in sight.
Well, there was some traffic going over the bridges from Broad Channel to the Rockaways and Rockaway Beach to Atlantic Beach. But it wasn't as bad as I expected. I guess people had backyard barbeques (I saw a fair number of those) or celebrated in other ways.
It's interesting to see couples , usually middle-aged or older, who raised kids who've moved out. I guess once a parent, always a parent. I often see such couples on Mother's Day as well: On that day or Father's Day, it's common for one spouse to take the other out for lunch or dinner.
I wondered if one such couple was at Point Lookout when I got there:
For a moment, I didn't see anyone else, let alone a couple who might've worn those shoes. Could they have wandered out into the water only to for one of them to have a heart attack, or a memory lapse?
Fortunately, I saw them walking on a sandbar. No kid was anywhere in sight.
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