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| My father is furthest out on the wing. |
Father’s Day is special. I use the day to remember a father
I never knew. He died in WWII in the cockpit of his P-51. Since I was born
after he shipped out to Iwo Jima, we never met, but I grew to know him through
his brothers and sisters. If he was anything like them, he was a fine person.
I also like connecting with my kids, even though they’re now
adults. The best gift they ever gave me was six grandkids. Now, that’s a great
present! I don’t need anything more from them, but who am I to go against
tradition. I look forward to my gifts because they always show thought, and
that means more than the gift itself.
If you’re looking for a gift idea for your father, I have a
great idea—books.
In a previous year, I wrote:
Books are great gifts. For a few dollars, they provide hours of entertainment that can be enjoyed anywhere. A good book sheds life’s tensions as it transports the reader to another place and time. Of course, I’m biased. I write books and hope you’ll pick one of mine as a Father’s Day gift. But even if you don’t, all books bring unique pleasure.
The best gift is a vacation … and the least expensive vacation is a book. A novel effortlessly transports the reader to another world. With a good book, dad can take a fifteen minute vacation or while away an entire afternoon. Either way, he returns feeling refreshed and more content with life.
Gift books don’t have to be fiction. A respite with a nonfiction book about a special interest can also be relaxing. The great thing about books is that there are numerous ones for every interest, hobby, sport, or enthusiasm. If for some reason, your dad can’t get away to fish, golf, or whatever, he can frequently find a few minutes to read about his favorite activity. A good book allows him to indulge himself and possibly pick up a few pointers.
There is another reason I like to give books as gifts: I can write something personal on the flyleaf that won’t get thrown out like an old greeting card.
The most important thing is to remind your father that you love him. The perfect book is far more personal than most gifts because it’s aimed directly at what you father enjoys. Put some serious thought into the right book to show you really tried to please him.
By the way, there's still time to order one of the Steve Dancy Tales for
Father's Day.
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| Honest Westerns ... filled with dishonest characters. |