Slightly belated: Why my dad is awesome

Father's day was last Sunday. Last sunday found me at Patty's, sans internet, so here is a belated happy father's day and happy bday to my dad, who is 56 or vice versa or something:

(Wow, 5 years ago right about now I defended my PhD thesis. How time slips. Dad, do you remember the cake I drew for you on powerpoint? :) I know, i know, not enough candles... they wouldn't fit. Dude, you're too old. Powerpoint drawing functions can't handle that kind of resolution)

My dad is excellent. Not in an in-your-face, showy way - Dad is quiet strength. Or, sometimes, at his computer, a focused blue streak, tee hee. He and Mom have been married for 40 years in August. That shows a commitment most of us can only aspire to. He has in series looked after the finances and concerns of Grandpa, Mama and Dada, and Grandma, and continues to look after Mama's in the smartest way possible. He has know-how and standards that have benefitted numerous companies who may not have seen the gem in their midst, and some that have (the Navy and NASA, for two). He has put four women thru college, keeping finances smartly afloat the whole way. He co-designed, helped to build, and has maintained the house in Cheshire for nearly 24 years, and is in the process of designing his and Mom's dream home in Sedona - with green building standards, might i add (he put in geothermal heating in Cheshire way before green was cool!). He has been "in" on the computer revolution since the early '80s, tho it took him a while to warm up to cell phones (not that he really has yet, but whatever). He "gets" the stock market in a way few observers will (some of my earliest memories are of him poring over stock market graphs). He used to fly planes, and may still hold the touch-and-go-record at some airport in the southwest. He has learned to tolerate cats, and even maybe to like one (Ralfie). Perhaps most excellently, he has been Dad to the 3 of us kids, and Uncle George to 6. Great-Uncle George to 6 munchkins (OK, Heather and Josh don't qualify as munchkins anymore, but whatever). And hopefully, within a few years, Grandpa.

Retire? Not my dad. He'd be bored silly. Aw, dangit, that's where we get it. Dang that need for brainfood and accomplishment. It's not a wonder the 3 of us turned out to be achievers. Between Mom and Dad we were pretty much toast :)