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The Good Stuff About Dad
Under the dead leaves
I’ve written a lot about my dad, known as Mac. If you’ve read my book, he probably kindled a laugh, a disgusted head shake, and even a tear or two.
A character like Mac, a toothless trucker with a Jimmy Durante nose, and a knack for trouble, is golden fodder for a writer. If said writer is his daughter, like me, it can be quite painful.
Like all of us, he had more than one dimension. Sadly his good side lay gasping for breath under the memories of hurtful acts, like flora waiting for the dead leaves to blow away. It wasn’t until forgiveness was in full bloom that I could visit the treasures that lay beneath the rubble.
For Father’s Day, I want to pen the good things about Mac, my colorfully characterized dad. Before I begin you should know his life spanned from 1924 to 2010.
So here goes —
He had a great sense of humor, so it seems fitting to begin with a long list of his favorite dad jokes. The problem is, my dad’s many jokes were better suited for truckers and sailors than children. I remember many since I shared them with friends under the Willow tree at the far end of the Chinook Elementary schoolyard.
Still, he was funny in his own way. One of my favorite things he loved to say was —
