June 15, 2018

Be Our Guest / Mark Hummer

This Father’s Day, thank ‘dear old dad’ for all his love and wisdom in life

Early on Easter Sunday morning, our family received a call from my mom Carol back home in Fenton, Mich., informing all of us that my dad Robert had passed away from a long battle with cancer. His funeral was at our hometown parish of St. Rita in Holly, Mich.

Dad kept his natural sense of humor until the very end. He also kept his positive outlook, along with his strong sense of faith, and was a strong believer in the power of positive thinking. And he held a firm conviction in the late President Ronald Reagan’s belief that “character matters.”

There were Friday night fish frys at Holy Reedemer Parish in Flint, Mich., and youth group gatherings at St. Rita’s Parish, where he showed me the ropes to being a lector for Mass (which I continued at the University of Toledo as a student and later as a parish member).

These times, along with the recent passing of my mother-in-law from Shanghai, helped confirm for me that life definitely goes in cycles.

A few of my dad’s sayings were known as “Bob-isms.” They included: “When I was your age,” “advice is worth what you pay for it,” and “stop and smell the roses.” He said that one to my wife, Siming, after she arrived in the U.S. from Shangai in 1991.

Bob-ism’s also included: “The man upstairs has always been looking out for you,” “if you want to know the weather, don’t watch the TV, ask me,” “the oldies were really the goodies,” and “they call me the answer man: ask me a question, I’ll give you an answer.”

At Christmas, he always made us a heart of fudge and a lobster tail. He was also always there for our children’s baptisms.

This Father’s Day, I encourage you to take time out to thank dear old dad, grandpa, a brother, uncle or friend who has shared their advice, knowledge, support and wisdom through the years.

Remember, we are social creatures by nature, and did not get this far in life by ourselves.

To dads, one and all, Happy Father’s Day!
 

(Mark Hummer is a member of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis.) †

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