Day 13 SOL 16: Days with Dad

"The kids are all here and we're ordering pizza," I texted my dad.  "You're welcome to join us."

It wasn't long until my dad replied, "I'm in for the night.  I don't feel well so I'm going to stay here.  Thanks."

"What?" the kids chimed together.  "Grandpa never says no," they said, "you should go over and check on him."  It was a little unusual.  First of all, my daughter was home from college for the start of her spring break.  She hadn't been home for several weeks.  My son was also at the house.  His schedule is usually so busy we rarely see him.

If anybody else would have declined, we wouldn't have thought much of it, but my dad rarely misses any fun.  He's always the first to say, "Yes, let's do it."  He loves adventure and is all ready to go along with the crowd.

When we were kids, my dad worked second shifts.  That meant he left for work around three and returned after midnight.  During the school year, it seemed my brothers and I didn't see much of him.  In the summer,  however, the best nights were the ones we managed to stay awake long enough for his return home.  Sometimes we were able to talk him into a late night drive into White Castle or perhaps some putt-putt in the dark.

Things haven't changed much.  Now my dad is one of the first people my kids call when they're ready for adventure.  He can be found driving all the way to my daughter's school to attend a sporting game or go out to dinner.  It's not unusual for him to pile all of the grandchildren into a car and head to a hockey game. If the kids are having a group of friends over, they always call Grandpa to see if he'll hang out too.

Even now, years later, hanging out with Dad is something I love.  Whether it's a coffee run, a trip across state lines, or a random drive, hanging out with Dad is always fun.  Dad has always managed to keep life in perspective, and just a few hours with him usually helps me get mine back too.

Today my dad is celebrating his birthday.  In true Dad style he's on vacation with my son.  They're hanging out in the mountains for a few days.  It seems birthdays can't slow him down.

For the month of March I will be participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge hosted at Two Writing Teachers.  It will be a busy month of writing, commenting, and learning with this community.  Stop by today's link up to join the conversation or find some great reading.