Father’s Day, a day to reflect on things our parents taught us.
Lesson # 1:
“You control your own destiny.”
There was a windmill on the farm where I grew up. At 5 years old, it was a major fascination for me.
One day Dad and a neighbour were chatting in the yard, near the windmill. I was monkeying around with the green handle that opened the upper wind turbine mechanism. Dad told me that the handle was dangerous and that I should leave it alone.
The minute he went in the house and no one else was looking, I pulled on the handle. It was a breezy day, and the wind caught the fan as it opened. The force of it flipped the oak handle up and caught me solidly under the chin. I don’t remember Dad saying anything as I went bawling and bleeding into the house; his silence was enough to reinforce the life-long lesson that, “I am responsible for my own actions.”
Lesson # 2:
“You can if you think you can.”
When I was 14 years old Dad had an old Dodge truck. The engine started rattling one day and the Dodge died. Dad decided the truck was too far gone to repair, so he abandoned it.
My drivers’ licence being not far away, I was l determined that I needed wheels. I asked Dad if I could try to fix the truck. I am sure he knew it was beyond hope, but he didn’t discourage me, in fact he drove me around the countryside looking for spare parts from another derelict Dodge.
With Dad’s help, I managed to get some shims on the piston rods and put it back together. We fired the Dodge up and, lo and behold, it ran! For the next ten miles I was king of the road. I was driving my own wheels, that I had fixed myself!
Within a couple of days, the Dodge expired – for good this time – but the feeling of accomplishment I got from making that old truck run never left me. Dad had taught me that anything is possible.
Lesson # 3:
“Charity, and how it works.”
During the 1960’s, on a particular day of each month, the Natives from the nearby reserve would receive their Treaty money. They would often come into Arcola for supplies, and in many cases, they would make their way to the bar for refreshments. The adults would park at the Hotel and leave their kids in the back seats of the cars.
“Cocktail hour” often stretched into several hours.
On more than one occasion, Dad went to the grocery store and bought snacks (Hot Rods beef sticks and Vico chocolate milk) and distributed them to the abandoned kids.
Dad never made a big deal of it, he never called the authorities or confronted the parents, he just did what he did, because it was the right thing to do. That’s how charity works.
Lesson# 4:
“The power of Imagination”
There were always books around our house; I remember reading and being read to often as a child. I always enjoyed the stories but the ones I remember most fondly were the ones Dad made up.
Johnny Kenorie was one of my favourites. Johnny was a tiny man, who lived at the garbage dump. Johnny had countless adventures from his discarded match-box house. Johnny was crafty and agile; no stray cat or hailstorm ever got the better of him.
So many good things have happened because of Dad’s stories; creativity, out-of-the-box thinking and fun, to name just a few. The Blog you are reading started with Dad’s Johnny Kenorie stories.
Lesson # 5
“Double Entry Bookkeeping”
When I was about 12 or 13, Dad bought a farming manual and bookkeeping kit from United Grain Growers. He encouraged me to read new pages as they arrived, which I did, and dutifully inserted them into a categorized three-ring binder.
Dad also encouraged me to help with the farm bookkeeping.
I parlayed those accounting and organizational skills into an Industrial Finance Company. Essex Lease Financial Corporation has Dad and UGG to thank for its existence.
Lesson # 6:
“Patience”
I spent most of my time from 14 to 18 getting into trouble. I stayed out all night regularly, wrecked a number of vehicles, got other cars hopelessly stuck or damaged, and rode around in a few police cars.
I am sure Dad lost his temper occasionally (because I seriously deserved it), but I never felt that he ever gave up on me.
Dad taught me the art of patience, a virtue I am still working on.
Lesson # 7:
“If Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade.”
I have always known, because Dad taught me so, that next year will be better.
I watched Dad experience crop failures and poor wheat prices; broken down machinery, and a sore back, but I never once saw him defeated. Even in the darkest days of our family’s history, when Mom got sick, Dad was our rock.
Each successive year of my life has been better than the last, thanks to Dad.
Dad passed away in 2021. One of my major regrets in life is that I never properly told him how grateful I am for his mentorship.
So, on this Father’s Day, I am going to get together with my children and pass on a piece of Dad’s advice …
… Don’t Touch the Green Handle.
Adrian Keith Paton, with Russell Adrian Paton, 1955.
Sandra
Russ – This tribute to your Dad really hit home for me. All so true and relatable. Your Dad was so proud of all you kids. We are all guilty of not realizing how good of what we had. Thank you for sharing your memories and gratitude for Adrian.
Autumn Downey
Adrian was very creative and observant. I think those genes got passed on to his family. Happy Father’s Day.