[AE.Personal, AE.Family, AE.Humor] Wisdom from my Father
So I saw my dad today, which was the first time I'd seen him or any blood relative of mine in two years. He drove out to see us on a little cross-country jaunt so we could catch up and share in some of the sights and sensations of our life here.
It felt good. We'd had plans to visit him in Florida (where he was at the time) back in April of 2020, plans that were at that point already belated holiday plans, so there was a lot of a sense of making up for time. We talked. He talked a lot, and I listened, which can be a nice change of pace for me.
In the car on the way back from lunch, I reflected that he's an easy person to talk to because he does so much of the heavy lifting himself.
Multiple times during our conversations he did check in to make sure he wasn't crowding me out with his words, but I was content to listen.
I have learned a lot over the years from similar conversations with my father, and I feel like this time I come away with several useful ideas I will be exploring in my life and work from here on out.
Nestled among those jewels of parental experience was another bit of knowledge he bestowed upon me, which is that US Senator for the state of Illinois Stephen A. Douglas, who famously defeated Abraham Lincoln for that seat only to be bested by him in turn in his quest for the presidency, had born a slight but unmistakable resemblance to an Oompa Loompa.
Like most information, this little tidbit may have been more or less useful to different people according to their varying needs and abilities. Being me, I knew as soon as I heard it that I must put it to use, and I did so at the earliest opportunity.
This one's for you, Dad.
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