Some fathers give their children advice and...

Some fathers give their children advice and lectures on life,

regardless of whether they ask for it. My father, a man of few words,

managed to get the important themes across by simply being himself.

Here are a few lessons that have stayed with me through the years:

Take matters into your own hands

After a dispute with the electrical company, my father dismissed

them and rigged the house with tiny bubbles of light charged by car

batteries.

There’s always a brighter view

Dad used to bow down, offer me his shoulders and rise in silence

as my perspective changed from rough, brown trunks to dancing green

leaves.

Respect all critters

Dad used to catch the spiders that infiltrated the basement and

release them into the backyard

The value of originality, creativity and thoughtfulness

Never one to send a Hallmark, Dad had his own brand of greeting

cards in the form of birthday, holiday and made-up-occasion checks

personalized with stick figure cartoons that danced on the memo

lines.

He once picked a bouquet of New England maple leaves, packed them

between sheets of newspaper and sent them to his daughter in

California.

You’re never too old to kick someone’s butt

At age 71, Dad chased a burglar out of his house and into the arms

of the police.

It’s never too late to learn a new trick or trade

Dad wanted to keep working after he retired, so he learned to

operate a forklift at age 72.

The virtues of strength and patience

Dad survived a debilitating stroke at age 73, spent a

year-and-a-half on a feeding tube, continues to undergo rigorous

rehab and has never once complained.

For being my life’s inspiration and so much more, I celebrate my

dad this Father’s Day.

LYDIA DOBBS