Happy Father's Day

Today is father's day and people who know me well know that I have dad issues. I was raised by my grandmother and had limited contact with my father. I've spoke to him a few times and a couple of visits here and there but he basically has not been in my life. That ship has sailed and I am reflecting today about the men who were father figures to me over the years.

You see, I had no body to teach me my man-lessons as I grew up. Despite this I was wise enough to seek out what appropriate man behavior was. My earliest memory was at Emery Brother's Skating Rink in Marion, Illinois. Jim and Patty Emery own that establishment and it is home to some of my fondest memories in life including meeting my wife. I remember saving all my paper route money to go skating three nights a week. I had always looked up to Jim and respected his authority. He was fair to us and treated us like more than patrons.

When I was fresh out of high school Jim gave me a job at the rink. I was the guy that skated around and picked people up when they fell and kept the kids in line while they had fun. I often credit my desire to teach to this job. I learned, though, to appreciate Jim in a whole new way. He taught me the value of hard work and to treat people with respect. I loved to see him take pride in his establishment and do anything he could to make his father proud of the job he had done with the rink.

I would like to send out a Happy Father's Day to all the men out there who raise more kids than just their own. Countless men go beyond the all of duty because they recognize it is their small way to help save the world around us. Sadly some still do not get it. Jim, among others, had a tremendous impact on me because my father didn't do the job. Kids need their dads. I see the result of this each and every day and I try to do for them what Jim has done for me. One kid at a time.

Jim is now battling MS and one of Marion's finest citizens is not in the rink to do his best work. If you know him and have a connection to the rink, you know how empty it feels without him. Jim if you are out there, thank you for all you have done for me and please continue to fight on.