An Ode to the Father’s
Life can change in an instant. We know this. And, yet when it happens and we lose someone we love, we know it deeply. Lately, I have watched many people lose their loved ones. I hear their words, read their tales and feel their tears mixed with my own. When we lose a loved one, we never wish we had said I love you less. We always wish we had said more, listened more, and loved bigger. This Father’s day, let’s acknowledge the dad’s we know – whether they are ours or simply those we observe. Today, go find a dad to love. They are everywhere. Grab one if you have to. Tell him what he needs to hear. Appreciate the heck out of him. And, of course, love your own if you are willing.
Some of us are lucky and have the best fathers in the world. Others may not consider themselves so lucky. How about for this Father’s day, we celebrate the perfect – as well as the imperfect fathers. Let’s celebrate those that strive to do better as well as those who believe they can never measure up. And, let’s cheer the spirit of what it means to be a father. At it’s core, and whether or not it is “done well”, fatherhood is a miraculous mission. (more…)
Gardening
Another client of mine is an anesthesiologist……..but is an avid gardener and great writer. He even writes his own blog weekly and is very funny. I’m sure we could use him for a memoiry or two.
- Are you an avid or a casual gardener?
- What do you plant? Flowers? Vegetables?
- What are your biggest challenges/rewards?
- How did you learn to garden? Did you have a mentor? Have you taught others?
- What have you had the most success with? What has been your biggest disappointment?
- What life lessons have you learned from your garden?
Baseball
Baseball….our national pastime in the summer. I have a client who is a sportscaster for the Milwaukee Brewers. I could ask him to write a guest blog describing his greatest baseball memoiry. That could spark some interest again.
- Are you a baseball fan? What team? Who are your baseball heroes?
- What do you enjoy about baseball? Who do you watch the games with?
- How did you first get interested in baseball?
- How long have you been a fan? Has the experience changed for you over the years?
- Do you go to the games or follow them on tv or radio? Do you keep score?
- Who are your favorite baseball announcers?
- What are your favorite baseball moments (on or off the field)?
- Did you/do you play baseball?
- What are your favorite baseball metaphors for life?
Olympics
As for the Olympics, I have a good friend and client Suzy Favor Hamilton who was the Big Ten athlete of the decade in the 80’s who was on the UW Olympic team a few times running the 1500 in track. I could have her write a guest blog about her experience (her favorite memoiry) and we could then ask other for their favorite sports or Olympic memoiry, etc.
- Do you have special memoiries of the Olympics? What Olympic moments hold special meaning for you? What has been your experience of watching the Olympics, either in person or on TV?
- Have you ever competed in an Olympic sport? tried out for/made the Olympic team? Do you know someone who has?
Fourth of July
- What does this day mean to you? Do you acknowledge the historical significance of Independence Day? What does independence mean to you?
- Is July 4th simply an awesome summer holiday?
- Do you have any July 4th traditions? Do you celebrate with friends/family?
- What are your memoiries of fireworks displays? Love them? Hate them?
- Where is your favorite place to watch fireworks?
- Where is your favorite place to spend July 4th?
- What are your childhood memoiries the holiday?
- What foods or activities have special meaning for you on this day?
Summer Camp
- Did you go to sleep-away camp?
- Was it a good experience?
- What kind of camp was it? What were the accommodations like – bunks, food?
- What was the staff like? your counselors?
- Did you learn songs that you remember?
- Are you still friends with people you met at camp?
- What were your favorite/least favorite activities?
- Were there girls and boys? How did that play into your experience?
- Do/did/will you send your kids to camp?
Summer Jobs
- What was your best/worst/most unique or interesting summer job?
- What did you learn from the experience?
- How much did you make? What did you do with the money you earned?
- What was your boss like?
Summer vacation
A good friend of mine takes his family hiking and exploring the national parks every summer. He’s a wealth of knowledge and would be a great source for a guest blog to discuss his memoiries with family summer vacation travel.
- How did you spend your best/worst summer vacation(s)?
- Did you travel? What are your most memorable trips? Who were you with? How did you get there? Where did you stay? What did you eat? What did you do/see?
- Did you stay home? What activities did you do? Were you busy or bored?
- What are/were your favorite things about summer? Ice-cream? Baseball season? Amusement parks? Visiting relatives? Camping? Beach or mountains? Picnics in city parks? Outdoor concerts? Outdoor pools? Summer homes? Summer camp? Summer jobs? Farmers Markets/Fresh produce? BBQs? Watermelon? Corn on the cob? Roasting marshmallows? No school?
- What are your least favorite things? Sunburn? Bathing suits? Heat/humidity? Bugs?
Father’s Day
- What do you remember about growing up with your father?
- What does your father remember about your childhood?
- What do you know about your father’s life before he was your father?
- What is the best advice your father ever gave you?
- What type of father was he? Strict/Permissive? Aloof/Loving? Workaholic/Involved? Demanding/Supportive?
- How has your father influenced how you are as an adult? how you are with your own kids?
- What do you want your children to know about you?
- How has your perspective changed since becoming a parent?
Memorial Day
I know some veterans who would be happy to share their memories of military experience.
- What were the circumstances that led you to join the military?
- In what branch of the military did you serve? How long? Where were you stationed? How old were you? What was your job?
- How did your family feel about your service?
- What story/experience most stands out for you?
- What positives and negatives did you take away from your experience in the military? Have they changed over time?
- Do you keep in touch with the people you served with?
- How does your military experience inform the way you live today?
- What advice do you have for someone considering the military?
- How was your transition back to civilian life?
- Are you the child/sibling/spouse of someone in the military? What has that meant for your life?
- What does Memorial Day mean to you?
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