Fathers day is almost here and many Facebook users are changing their profile picture to include their dad. I would probably join them if I could quickly find a digital picture of my dad and I. But fathers day is not about posting pictures but about thanking dads for lessons taught.

For me a a first born son in the sixties one of my earliest memories is being outside as my father built a block wall fence around the backyard. I could not help him but I was there and I remember the fence going in. As I became older I was my dads right hand man. If he was fixing the car or the plumbing or any number of things I was nearby watching, then handing him tools and finally having him hand me tools as I would do the work as he watched.

I also remember mowing lawns at one of my grandfathers. My brother and I would work for hours mowing and raking the yards as my grandfather watched and guided us so that the yard was done just right.

My other grandfather took me fishing and showed great patience as he untangled my line or helped me to get my line in the water. He was also a puzzle person. Rubics Cube and many other puzzles were made for people like him.

All three of these men stayed with their families in good times and bad. Working second jobs if needed to support their families. All three of these men had hobbies, stamp collecting, oil painting, fishing, genealogy, and geology come to mind.

My father would take the family on drives and we would ask, “Where are we going?” to which he would reply “We are going crazy”. This would not satisfy my brother and I but whether we wound up in Azusa Canyon, or Travel Town, the zoo, El Monte airport or a museum, we had fun.

So what did my father and grandfathers teach me?

• Family comes first - do what is needed for your family
• Be Patient - with your children and your spouse
• Have Fun - have a hobby, go do things with your family

And just in case you’re wondering these men were not perfect, there was yelling on occasion and yes it was the sixties so I had a spanking or two as I grew up. However I believe these three men would agree with the lessons I listed.

As for me I have already seen suggestions that my children may have learned these same lessons from me. And don’t let me take all the credit I believe my wife teaches the same lessons.  So as a son and a father I wish you all a happy fathers day and ask, What lessons did you learn from your father and or grandfathers?