In honour of father’s day, I like to reflect on the positive influence of good dads the world over, and on how fortunate I am to have a good dad myself. My father, Donald Macdonald, is one of the strongest and beneficial influences I’ve ever had, and one of my first and most splendid role models.
My dad is the kind of guy who makes my mom breakfast in bed every morning, the kind of guy who rises at dawn every morning and wakes everyone else up on time if they hit the snooze button too many times. He’s the kind of guy who can make a mean shepherd’s pie or beef and barley soup, among other things, and pick you up if it’s pouring rain and you desperately need a ride home. He’s the kind of guy who isn’t afraid to be frank with anyone, and for that I respect him a whole lot.
From a young age, I’ve always been full of questions. To put it more bluntly, you couldn’t shut me up. I vividly remember afternoons and evenings when my dad would have the news playing on TV, and I’d subject him to a gauntlet of questions about anything and everything I saw and heard.
From random trivia, and factoids, to political theory, grammar, etymology, and world history, my father has always been a wellspring of vast knowledge to me. I don’t know how many times as a child I’d barge into the room, and ask numerous “Who, what, when, where, and why” questions. He, of course, could and did answer every one of those questions.
He continued to share this knowledge and wisdom with me as I grew, helping me with innumerable school projects, reports, and papers, encouraging me to read, write, and develop what talents, interests, and affinities I have today.
Even in university, he was always ready to mercilessly proofread my papers and reports. Sometimes, quite necessarily, he’d cut the more troublesome of my literary essays to metaphorical shreds in the interest of making sure I came forward with a polished, solid product to hand in to my professors.
In fact, I consider my dad’s help in all the forms it came, to be a major factor in my decision to pursue journalism as a career. He helped me foster an interest and appreciation for the news and how it’s presented. He was and is always open for a good dinner table chat about politics and social issues.
As daunting as such matters are, and as little as I really know about them, I’ve come to appreciate those times all the more since leaving home.
He encouraged me to study hard, and get a good education to serve as a foundation for all that I set out to accomplish. He encouraged me to read and write to the best of my abilities, and hone what talents I eventually cultivated – for that I am truly thankful. I’m proud to be my father’s son – always have been, and always will be.
