Sunday, June 15, 2014

Father's Day 2014

Before "Elder Price" left for Africa last summer, he had me take this photo to share with his dad for this year's Father's Day:

This year, we recognize Dale as our HERO. Our latest example:

Yesterday we left San Diego to drive back to our home in Utah. We had been visiting my parents for their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Less than two hours into the drive our car died--not completely at first, but it sounded like we lost a gear and our tachometer went to zero. We were able to safely get across a few lanes of traffic and exit at the next off-ramp. We soon realized it was an electrical problem--our battery was dead. We got a jump and the car slowly crawled to the nearest Costco (less than half a mile away!) where we were able to exchange the battery for a new one (under warranty). Ta-da! It works! We then worked our way over to the auto parts store and got Dale his Father's Day present. A shiny new alternator!! :-D 
Beautiful new alternator. Good-looking Hawaiian husband, too.
Ninety minutes from the time we were pulling off the freeway, we were getting back on--on our way again. Dale drove through the night (as the rest of us slept) and got us safely home around 3:30 am. Our hero.

Re-sharing the tribute Rain wrote to his dad last year:


Father's Day 2013
So… This is the last Father’s Day with my dad for two years. And it’s the end of those memorable “High School Years” that I’m told so often that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s a time of huge change in my life, and so many things are now left to memories.

"My dad? Him only got one leg."

I’m sure gonna remember this adventure. The 100 yards of road in front of my house that I’ve passed so many times are going to mean something different now. Every costume, all the laughs, the shocks, the confusions of outdated costumes that I don’t get, they all come together to make a memory of my dad that I will never forget. But is it embarrassment that I remember? No. What do I remember then? I remember the question after school that he would ask without fail, “So what’d you think of the costume today?” What did I think? Better yet, what do I think NOW? Now that it’s over? I think that my dad is nothing short of incredible. He chose to be a part of my life through these pivotal years. I can’t say I appreciated him being there every single moment of it, but I’m so glad he was. He was there with me in New York City. He was there with me in Los Angeles. He was next to me for the phone calls, the interviews, and every moment of this whirlwind. Most importantly, he’s been there when I need him. He’s understanding, he gives me advice, and most of all, he’s helped make me who I am today. He’s taught me more than just how to change the brakes on a car; he’s taught me how to be a responsible and respectable human being. He's taught me to work when the finish isn’t in sight. He’s taught me to be the bigger man and say sorry. He hasn’t simply waved as my life goes by on a bus; he’s been on the bus with me, pointing out the sights on the side of the road, telling me stories, making me laugh, encouraging me, and teaching me. Showing me that I’m the one driving, and there are so many places I can go.

He’s more than just a weird dad who waves at his kid in costumes.

He’s my dad. And I’m proud to be his son. 

Thank you, Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

--Rain

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