"Normal" Weekend, Extraordinary Dad

Friday morning began the weekend - at the steeply priced (gross understatement) breakfast. It was an interesting gathering of people, all rather affluent. And, while I came in with Gramma and met several individuals, I was actually seated at a different table while she took her seat at the distinguished head table. One of my favorite things is to be "anonymous" in places like that. A quote that struck me several years ago serves me today, "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone he thinks can do him no good." (And I add to that, "how he speaks in front of someone he thinks doesn't know anyone!".)  I simply greeted people at my table with my name and listened as conversation ensued. As we finished up our meal and Gramma stood to speak, one gentlemen made his way to the seat beside me.

Gramma had just launched into her speech and mentioned, "I'll get to the part about the money in a moment.." when my new neighbor turned to me and snipped, "We all know that. I haven't seen her once that she hasn't cost me money!" And I just smiled, keeping my attention forward. A few moments later came another snarky remark, "They say she's sick. Seriously? She looks fine to me!" I shrugged, again keeping my eyes forward. And, since he hadn't gotten enough of a response from me, he turned to his right and made an additional smart comment (which I couldn't hear) to the lady next to him. 

"You're sitting beside her granddaughter," was her response. And he was rather attentive during the rest of her speech. I suppose he thought he'd be "found out", because after the breakfast he approached Gramma and said, "You look great, Ora, really. You don't even look very sick."  To which she responded, "Have you ever heard of make-up?" 

We got in the car and she asked me, "What exactly do they want to see? I mean, I could leave my make-up and wig off and come in my nightgown. Is that "sick" enough?" Who knows what people expect to see...

Yesterday, as we got ready for a trip to Phoenix to see my little cousin Drew in a production of "Annie", we realized that the plumbing in the house was having a little difficulty. So, Dad undertook the task of figuring it out while we journeyed north. Well, after working all of Saturday and Sunday, it looks like we'll have to call in some help. Dad has put in probably a total of 24 hours working on the problem. These two days served as a major reminder of the kind of character my father has. I don't see these moments as much, living so far apart, but I can't remember a time when he hasn't been just this faithful and consistent.

My dad has always:

• Done the outside work of our home (no small task in West Virginia where we heated our home with wood during winter months and cut acres of grass during summer months)
  
• Vehicle maintenance
  
• House maintenance
  
• Lawnmower maintenance
  
• Taken out every load of trash
  
• Raked gravel back onto the driveway after fierce rains
  
• Scraped all the snow off our cars and heated them up before we left the house
  
• And thought of everything we would need before we knew we needed it
  
• (in fact, after I arrived here in Arizona, he took my car and washed it and had it detailed)

And never once have I heard him complain! Never once. Not one foul word. In the midst of HOURS of cutting wood so we'd be warm in the winter, when the chainsaw broke, I never saw him kick anything (I would have!). Once, while cutting a tree for fire wood, he disrupted a bees' nest and yellow jackets stung him multiple times. He wasn't angry (at least in front of us) and that wood probably heated our home for at least a few nights. 

And this weekend, given the latest plumbing events, he sacrificed every hour he had off, even missing church (not a typical occurrence in the Bock house). Not one bitter word was spoken. When I went out to check on him this afternoon, he was all smiles, up to his knees in dirt.

My poor husband; he's got an insanely high standard to meet! A standard of service and faithfulness that would challenge any man. I grew up thinking, "this is just what men do." And now I know the reality:  this is just what my father does. Day in and day out, like the sunrise, he's consistent. Even when the jobs are thankless...Even when I'm thankless...It doesn't matter. What's right is right and it will be done. 

I'm glad I finally know how thankful to be...

Enjoy this little video from "Annie" just because they were so stinkin' cute and they worked so hard! (And maybe because the song feels slightly appropriate right now.)