I have fond memories of men in my life who were fatherly toward me. These were men who acted as fathers to children/teenagers in the neighborhood whether or not these young people had fathers. They took seriously their role to protect young people and (to) guide and inspire them to “get a good education” and become good citizens.
These fatherly men would occasionally show young people that they could jump rope or play hopscotch. We kids giggled as they did, but they made us feel really special to have these adults join in our games even if they only did so for a few minutes. We loved them and respected them.
When I was 18, Buck, the man in the family living next door to my family in our duplex, set up boxes in the parking lot next door. He let me use his car to practice parallel parking so that I could get my driver’s license. My family did not own a car. Besides this fatherly deed, Buck did not hesitate to give me his fatherly advice about guys I might date, and he certainly did not bite his tongue if he thought the young man was not right.
I appreciate Buck’s fatherly investment in me and other young people. I hope there are others who have had or have caring fathers or fatherly men in their lives. These men should be honored/respected/loved and remembered on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 20th.
A HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO FATHERS AND ALL MEN WHO ASSUME A FATHERLY ROLE.