Today is Father’s Day and I have to be honest I was not looking forward to it.
This is the first Father’s Day since Dad passed.
So, I have been basically ignoring it. Ignoring the sales, signs, billboards, commercials, popups and flyers virtually everywhere. Hunkering down and ignoring the world.
But karma and the world decided otherwise.
I just wanted to relax so I plopped on Disney+. Yeah, I know. A fifty some man watching Disney+.
Can you tell I am gay?
Not really caring what I watched but wanting some background noise while I played a game, I hit the “Play Something” button and a video started while I fired up a strategy game.
Then, the title came on: “OUT”
“OUT”? What on earth was that?
OHMYGOD! There was a gay animated movie on DISNEY?????????
It turns out it was a short and was part of their PRIDE month celebration that I had not even realized they were doing it but the important part is what it was about.
“OUT” tells the story of how a closeted gay man tells his parents he is gay and introduces them to his boyfriend. That is a VERY simplified explanation of a story involving pets, body switching, supernatural beings and barbecue but saying more would give away too much but the important part is right at the end.
At the end of the video, the quiet, strong, silent Dad is introduced to his son’s boyfriend and just grabs him and hugs him tight.
That was my DAD!
I had to grab a tissue and was like “Really, Micheal?”.
So, yesterday morning, I had to run some errands.
Hopping in Jerry the Jeep, I popped on the radio and”Convoy” by C.W. McCall came on.
You remember that song, right? It was the one during the 1970’s the sparked the CB radio craze.
You don’t remember the CB Radio phenomenon?
It was the TikTok of the 1970’s. Really!
Millions of people hopped onto the radio trying to talk to truckers and keep an eye on “bears” i.e. cops. This was in the days before cell phones and the only way to navigate was by an actual printed map!
My Dad loved his CB radio but he loved that song even more.
“We got a great big convoy
Trucking through the night.
We got a great big convoy
Ain’t she a beautiful sight?”
Dad would roll down the windows and sing it at the top of his voice.
So…SO DID I!
Rolling down the windows and maxing the volume I drove down Washington Street.
“Come on join our convoy!” I shouted and could almost hear Dad singing with me.
The people I passed must have thought I was crazy but that was fun!
But, then I had to pull into my least favorite place on Earth.
Yeah, Walmart!
Okay, maybe not exactly my least favorite place but close. However, when you need large breed dog food, there are few places that sell it. So in I walked.
I made certain to avert my gaze from the Father’s Day display at the door as I went in and quickly made my way to the dog food aisle and grabbed a bag. Then, I headed to the checkout to escape.
That is when it happened.
The complete lack of pay for Walmart associates means that of the 24 checkout lines only 4 were open so I popped into the self-checkout line which was only 18 people deep(!).
Unfortunately, the self-checkout queue went straight through the Father’s Day section. I tried to look straight forward as we inched forward. After 15 minutes of not moving, it became more and more difficult.
Then, something caught my eye.
Standing on the shelf right next to me was a standing Smoky Bear with a sign saying “Only Dads can prevent forest fires!”
I almost lost it right there.
You see, Dad loved Smoky Bear and always used to take us to see the giant talking statue at the Ohio State Fair each year. And, as Dad worked for the the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, he knew who was operating the bear.
And every year, it would greet us by name!
“Micheal, good to see you! Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!” it would say.
I picked up the statue off the shelf and was smiling at it when I heard someone crying to my left.
The Walmart associate stocking the shelf was crying.
“Ma’am, are you all right?” I asked.
“I’m sorry.” she said. “My father died in March.” She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
I grabbed her and hugged her.
After a moment, she smiled and said, “Thank you!”
At that moment, I knew my Dad was standing right there.
Happy Father’s Day!
Tales From An Old Ford 