Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday. I thought this would be a good time to write a little about him. I wrote about my grandfather a few days ago, and my dad is definitely his father's son. Dad never lacks for something to say and he can have a conversation with anyone, just like Grandaddy could. Stick him in a room full of strangers and in a few minutes he will have made a room full of friends.

Dad used to work for Nationwide Insurance and spent a lot of time out on the road. I remember getting the chance to go with him on some of his day trips. I was fairly young, so I don't remember all the details of any trip in particular, but several moments do shine through. I know I had to have been bored to tears while Dad took care of the actual business parts of these trips, but it must not have been too bad since I don't remember it. Instead, I remember the fun times.

We would have to stop for lunch of course, and I remember eating with Dad at Macado's. This was and remains one of my favorite places to eat. I loved potato chips, so anywhere that served a mountain of them with your meal was ok in my book! Dad couldn't have made a better choice for us. I felt proud eating with my dad, who was all dressed up for work. I had no doubt that we were the most important people in the place.

I also remember stopping at a knife store. The insides of which held every kind of pocketknife known to man. We weren't into hunting or anything like that, but what little boy doesn't want to wander through isles of knives with his father, dreaming about the amazing figurines he could carve out of sticks in the backyard. Here were Dad and I, exploring this very manly store together. I couldn't have been happier.

More than anything else I remember just being happy on those trips with my dad. Even if he did have to work a little, those days with just the two of us traveling the road are treasured memories. No doubt he made us some new friends from shopkeepers and restaurant staff along the way too. Thanks for letting me tag along Dad. You don't know how much it meant to me. I hope you have a happy happy birthday!