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my family in the 1970s

Top 9 reasons: I’m my father’s daughter because…

9. We both repeat things ad nauseum just to annoy our kids.

8. We both know that repeating things ad nauseum to kids annoys them now but they’ll thank us for these words of wisdom someday.

7. We are both authors. His is an economics and political book called The Total Power of One in America and mine is a parenting book called The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption.

my family in the 1970s6. We are both obsessive-compulsive about keeping things new. I have been known to keep the protective film over the screen of a new smart phone for weeks after I begin using it, until it falls off by itself. I can’t bring myself to expose my new treasure to all the dirt and grime that’s just waiting to adhere.

5. We both love my mom and are grateful she is such a patient soul.

4. We are both musical. We play piano. He plays the guitar and tuba and I play the flute. We love to sing, sometimes embarrassingly loudly (well, him. Oh, and me, as I have confessed). Family lore has a story in which during communion one morning at church, Dad was indulging in the line:

when I fall on my knees | with my face to the rising sun ♫

But legend says he confused the two body parts and instead belted out:

♫ when I fall on my face | with my knees to…the….ummmmm… ♫

****walk of shame back to the pew****

My sisters and I have never let this go.

3. We both hate waste. We’ll get every last drop out of that salad dressing bottle, even if it takes forever and tastes as watered-down as we’ve made it.

2. We are both comfortable speaking to large groups about what we are passionate about.

………………..And the #1 reason I am my father’s daughter………….

1. Did you see our expressions?

Image: my family’s archives. Front row: Sheri, Tami, Lori.

Back row: Mom, Dad.

20 Responses

  1. Whew! Thank you for reminding me that Father’s Day is only days away! Is it already June?!

    Lavender Luz, You know I love you and your willingness to share your thoughts. But, I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a moment: if the Number One reason that you are your father’s daughter is that your mom swears it wasn’t the milkman…stop and think–for just a moment–what a comment like that means to an adopted child.

    I believe that THE person in this life that loved me most was my adad. Throughout my entire life, he is THE person that has come closest to the ideal of unconditional love. And the Number One reason that I am my father’s daughter is that he and I loved each other. No genetics, no similarities, just the need to love and be loved.

  2. Love this. 🙂 And … I’m thinking that maybe I’m your father’s daughter, too … except I don’t qualify under #1. 😉 And I’ve never met your mom, though I bet I’d love her, too.

  3. Aw, what an awesome photo and wonderful tribute to your father! Love that you don’t let him live down switching the body parts of the song but honestly I like his version better. Falling on your face is way more impressive than falling on your knees, right? 😉
    And um. Uh oh. Is Father’s Day this weekend? Crap…

  4. I love this post 🙂 You always make me laugh when I visit. So witty! This will be my second Father’s Day without my dad. While it’s heartbreaking that he won’t be around, I’m trying to stay positive because this will also be The Hubs’ first Father’s Day. Definitely something to celebrate!

  5. That is such a great photo! I too have seen it before, but it explains so much about you and your family! 😉 Also, everything I have heard about your parents and siblings makes me think I would love them too! It sounds like you were raised in a awesome family! I know I tell you this from time to time, but your dad’s advice, about “drawing a wider circle” has always stuck with me ever since I first read about it on your blog a few years ago.

    Finally, #6 reminds me of the first guy I dated (not for long) in college! He would leave the protective film on his watches and when we would eat dinner in our dorm, he would fill up a bunch of those small glasses with juice, milk or soda and then drink them at the same time keeping the levels even on each one. Go figure…

    Thanks for sharing! What a fun and interesting prompt in honor of Father’s Day!

  6. Why do I relate to so many of these reasons? Hmmm…possibly because I am my father’s daughter? Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

    Lori — My question to you: How did you narrow your list down to only nine? 🙂

    1. I did a complex analysis of the Laffer curve, including a wide confidence level to go with a standard deviation. The resulting histogram concluded that only those who met the threshold of the covalent would make the list.

      How’s that for Dad-speak?

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