Things I Learned from (and with) my Dad!
On May 11, 2012, my Dad, Harold Dale Barlow, celebrated his 90th birthday! I have always said that you are not old until you are older than my Dad, so there are many in my life who should be thankful for that perspective in my life! Since Dad could not choose the day of his birth, he had no influence on that perspective! However, his example directly influenced my perspective in countless ways.
Here are just a few of the ways Dad gave me perspective:
Get There Early
During my late teen years, my summer job was in the automotive parts warehouse where my Dad served as the Customer Service Manager. We would leave the house early so that we would arrive at least 30 minutes before our starting time. A few extra minutes of sleep are very important to a teenager, so I asked Dad why he arrived so early to work. He told me that at 8 o’clock the phone will start ringing and “I can get more done in that half hour than I will the rest of the day.”
People Over Things
One summer, my time at the auto parts warehouse was spent traveling around Missouri to local auto parts businesses that were served by the warehouse where Dad worked. When I introduced myself to one owner, he asked me if I was related to Harold. When he discovered that I was his son, he told me this story: “On several occasions, I would be so angry when I called the warehouse that I was committed to never doing business with them again. Your dad would take my call, LISTEN to the problem, ask me about how my FAMILY was doing, and SOLVE the problem. By the time I was done with the call, I couldn’t remember why I was mad in the first place.”
Honor Commitments
On May 17, 2012, my Dad and Mom celebrated 65 years of marriage! There is no such thing as “easy” marriage. His commitment to and honor of my Mom in the midst of the challenges of life are legacies that I will treasure on my 65th wedding anniversary.
Have Keen Vision
As a young teen, Dad and I were hunting rabbits on my cousin’s farm in southern Missouri. Dad walking with me as I was carrying the Stevens .410 that he was given when he was a teenager. Near a pond, we stirred a rabbit up and, of course, I missed the shot. The rabbit hopped around the pond into some cattails. Dad asked me if I could see it. I couldn’t! He tried to “walk” my eyes onto the rabbit with no success. He asked for the shotgun, and then proceeded to shoot the rabbit in cattails, across a pond, with a .410! I didn’t see the rabbit until I retrieved it. I am only now free to tell this story because the Statute of Limitations has run out on this event for poaching. Dad was not carrying a hunting license!
Have Alternate Routes
On the way home from the warehouse, I was never sure which way Dad would go home. The route to work was usually the same, but the way home was always in question. It might be the interstate, through midtown, or Swope Park. The adventure intrigued and inspired me. I still like to find alternate routes to the places I visit: each path has unique scenery and beauty upon which my ADD mind thrives. Actually, I think my dad had a more pragmatic reason for his alternate routes. He faithfully listened to the traffic reports from John Wagner, SkySpy!
Some Things are Worth a Little “Panic”
A cane fishing pole with a large bluegill at the end of the string flailing around a small boat guided by an excited young fisherman is certainly reason for panic! Dad was already well aware the dangers of the sharp spines on the fish’s dorsal fin waiting to find their mark in his hand, arm or face through the guidance of his over-stimulated son. It is a memory that makes me smile, however, I am not sure Dad would share my same perspective!
The Bible commands us to honor our father! Thank you, Dad, for making that command an easy one to follow. Your legacy runs through my mind and heart each day. My respect and love for you are beyond any words I could use. I am thankful to my Heavenly Father that I can call the man, Harold Dale Barlow, my Dad!
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