Think of Dad by refurbishing something he treasured

If my calendar is correct this Sunday is Dad’s day. Mom’s Day is a big affair as it should be. Many restaurant owners will tell you as I have discovered in the advertising world that it’s one of the busiest days in their business. The whole family, mom at the centerpiece, dines out and all our catered upon in honor of dear old mom.

Dad’s day is a slight bit different. Restaurants will tell you mostly that the numbers and tables turned for Mom’s day far surpass Father’s Day. Mostly, because dads are suffice with a steak on the grill and maybe a few more minutes of sleep on the Sunday upcoming. Typically we get a tie, soap-on-a rope ( how did that whole thing get started ? ) and some other novelty presents.

This column is to all the guys out there with dads living or deceased. Here’s what I did to honor my dad’s legacy. I found something around the house dad had made for me and decided to give it a little tender loving care. For me it was a patio table my father constructed after I moved into my Milford home back in 1994. After 10 plus years of winters, summers, wet springs and chilly fall seasons the table, still structurally sound, needed a facelift. So I took the quirky piece to a friend’s who guided me through the process.

Remember my column some weeks ago in the pages? Being handy and good with tools is not my spiritual gift. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, what I thought would be a two, maybe three hour job has turned into a multi-day process. The table has sentimental value. I can just picture my dad getting the wood to construct the legs, sides and shelf that make up this table. Atop the table are marble tiles and a cement finish with stones. It is a great little aid when dining outside. Taste aside, the only thing that has me so attached to the thing is I see my late father in the item, and I know he’s calling me to get off my backside and fix something he had the courtesy to make for his youngest son.

That was dad, always tooling around the house. Pipe clenched in teeth, I remember well when he and mom lived with me for a few weeks as they resided here while their new retirement community property was being completed. Dad became Director of Physical Plant when he and mom moved in during this short stint in the late 90’s. Painting, black coating my driveway and doing other odd jobs around my simple home dad was always moving. I came home nightly and dinner was prepared, the sidewalk swept and my oldest son, usually eager to see dad was quite content being with Pop-Pop and not at all eager or anxious to await my homecoming from work. Dad had it all under control. Typical of many guys in his generation. He said little but did much. A workhorse almost till the end, when the ghastly disease of Alzheimer’s robbed dad and our whole family of this great man, one piece at a time. He installed, almost single handed my brick patio and other items along the way too numerous to mention. You hardly knew he was here or what he was doing. A few weeks after he moved into his new retirement digs I would walk around and notice something and think to myself, “When did I do that?” Realizing of course it was Pop.

So, back to the table. What a project. Scraping, sanding, painting, repainting, repairing with wood filler and more to get the old thing looking like something resembling what dad gave me. It’s been a true labor of love. The neat thing is that in doing this work I am far from qualified for it does feel good. All the while knowing my friend guiding me has the patience of a saint as I ask him 20 questions about each step like a little kid peppering a parent about a range of topics. I don’t know why I am so anxious to do it right. Best I can come up with is that it’s my dad’s work. At the risk of sounding like the late Lloyd Benson who quipped at Dan Quayle during a Vice Presidential Debate saying Quayle is no John Kennedy, well I am no Sam DiRenzo.

Sam DiRenzo had a magic and quality about his work that I long for and try as I might it’s a tall order for anyone to fill. I am glad I am doing it and it’s coming to an end and back on display on the patio, this time I will get it covered, I am not looking forward to going through this again. I almost felt dad in every step of the process somehow smiling from above that his work is being looked after.

There has to be something around your home that dear old dad made or gave you. Maybe it’s tucked away in the corner of the house gathering dust, sitting in the basement, garage or attic. Think, find it, display it and if it needs some good old TLC then get to it. If you’re lucky enough to have your dad still with you invite him over when your project is done and place it in an area where you know he and everyone else will see it. I bet once he does get a look at it your gift will be the best Father’s Day present he’ll get this year. You’ll get a great feeling out of the process as well. Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s that step up and get it done. Enjoy your favorite dinner, maybe a ball game and that new tie or soap-on-a-rope.

See ‘ya around town.