Recently, I may have suggested my dad was only one of the great things to come out of Long Island. The truth is, not a lot of people can do the things my dad does. Like, he can read in the car without getting sick. And he makes really good steak. Not at the same time; don’t be ridiculous.
Oh and when I was 2, I was way ahead of my time and awesome I saw a swimming pool and was like, “Deep end, here I COME!” Bam, I jumped in to join my older brother and sister, and my chubby bum sunk straight to the bottom. Without a second thought, my dad lept in to save me, breaking his glasses along the way.
I think that’s why we get along so well. I could have been all, “Well, you brought me into this world, it’s your job to keep me here,” but instead I was like, “Thanks for that, Pop. One day I’ll join the swim team and make you proud stay afloat.”
As if that wasn’t enough, he used to take me on father-daughter trips to Bowcraft, this tiny, creepy amusement park next to a highway, and then across the street to Burger King. Those were the days, back when trans fat was what was for dinner, and winning enough tickets to get chinese finger cuffs was all you needed.
My dad is also a genius. I mean, yeah, okay, the real kind with a doctorate and Ivy League-y things, but whatever. I mean the practical kind of genius. Street smarts. Case in point: We used to go on long road trips in a small car, with all three kids crammed in the backseat. It was a recipe for disaster. So he came up with something called the Points System. We earned points for being good, and got them taken away when we were bad.
If we didn’t have enough points by the time we got to Burger King, we weren’t eating.
I know, right? Genius.
Happy Father’s Day, Pop! (Does this post win me any bonus points?)
What stories about your dad make you laugh?
Go Jules Go 
I used to kiss my Dad on the lips every morning and then I’d complain that his whiskers hurt. So one night he shaved off his mustache just for me (he looks TERRIBLE without facial hair, as my siblings made sure to inform him), and I’m pretty sure that’s still one of the sweetest things someone has ever done for me.
Your post was adorable. Congrats on Freshed Pressage. 😉
Aw, Cat, that really IS so sweet – I know how men are about their facial hair (even I could never give up my ‘stache… LOL)! Thank you so much for your kind words, and sharing this wonderful story! 🙂
oh, yeah, btw, I AM possessor of two (one a master’s) ivy-league, doo dah, degree certificate thingies. And, you know, most of those people are just “smarty” dumb people. Or, their parents bought their way in and so they are just dumb people who purchased their certificates. I will take your dad any day of the week. That man has heart and that’s what makes brilliance.
Go Jules Go.
Amelia, I know I responded to your other comment last night, but thank you again! It will definitely stick with me 🙂 It’s so refreshing to hear you agree, and that, even with your impressive education, you believe in a different kind of brilliance 🙂
Chinese fingercuffs! I had many of those from skee-ball/ beach excursions..with my dad, of course!
LOL! I always managed to break them somehow. I probably should have stuck with those rubber bouncy balls…
Congrats on being Pressed again. YAY for the Jersey Girl!
Sandy! Giving you the Jersey fist bump (with a slap bracelet on, ‘o course) right now! Thanks so much 🙂
Great story!
My Dad used to take me to Whataburger on days that I stayed home from school sick.
Thanks, David! Whataburger…I’ve never heard of that, but I feel like I must go there if it’s remotely possible. It sounds amazing (as does your dad!).
This was an awesome read! And your Burger King crown in the top picture did not go unnoticed; you must’ve been riding high on good points!
Ha ha! Thanks so much. I actually wrote this post and THEN saw the picture – it was like hitting the jackpot!
Thanks again for reading, and for the compliment! 🙂
love the pics in this post. your dad sounds way cool.
Thanks so much – it was a BALL going through the old pictures. 🙂
My dad is a quiet guy. Apparently he’s really intimating (says my fourteen year old friends). I just remember one time we went over to some friends house a few years ago and were playing this really intense game where you have several tables and lots of dice. He was shouting all over the place- laughing, just having a ball. I have to say- it was one of the best experiences ever.
Not to state that my dad doesn’t have fun…
I’m glad you got to see your dad let his hair down, April Marie! My dad is kind of the same way, which is why I look so THRILLED in that picture where I’m putting the barrettes in his hair – I couldn’t BELIEVE he was letting me do that! 🙂
great heroes are with us all arent they? some are our parents, some friends and some mentors. It does sound like you had some wonderful parents especially your father. Great post and good delivery of this story.
Yes, I think we all have the power to embrace our inner superheros! Thanks!
I love the humor!
Thanks so much, Dorothy Adele! We try to have a good time up in here 😉
Dad is always a great inspiration in ones childhood days.Now a days we are frequently hearing paid news and creative agitations from Feminists and women organisations that are purposfully mented to De-moralise the importants of a father in family and society. This article proved and showed the society that how important is the role of a father in ones child hood life.
Jules! Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed! You look so crisp and starched. Love the post, too. 😉
I bow to your blogging greatness Jules. I’m so thrilled for you!! Also, I’m going to tell everyone you’re my friend so that I look cooler by proxy. That’s cool, right?
GotC! Considering I’ve been using my association with you to boost my status for ages, I think that’s only fair.
Oh my god! Bowcraft! I haven’t thought about that amusement park in ages. And here’s a story about my dad to (hopefully) make you laugh:
When my brother and I were little, my dad went through a pretty serious beard phase. He had the mustache, connectors, neck beard, the whole shebang. One day he decided to shave it off. Then he proceeded to convince my brother and I that he was an alien who had taken over my father’s body.
The thing is, I totally believed him, even after mom explained what had happened. Even today, I sometimes wonder…haha.
Okay, 1) HILARIOUS that you know Bowcraft, and 2) This story made me laugh out loud. Your dad is my hero (Pop, if you’re reading this, since you never had facial hair, please grow your first beard and tell our neice and nephew the same story)!
Thank you SO much for stopping by – and for sharing this amazing story! 🙂
I remember my dad doing “the twist” in our living room, to some early rock-n-roll song playing on the Heath-kit stereo he built himself. I’ve missed him for a couple years now, but I picture him in heaven, doing the twist again, and that makes me smile!
That makes me smile, too, Jana! Thank you for sharing that memory – I’m doing a little “twist” in my chair right now in his honor! 🙂
I almost did not click on this blog because of the photo. I must admit, your Dad in the swimming shorts is not the most appealing thing to click on. But I am so glad I did. You are hilarious. And I love the photo with the barrettes at the end. You are lucky to have such a dad. It made me nostalgic about mine.
So, this is a shout-out to my dad, “I love you, Abba. Thank you for always being there as I stumble through life.”
LOL! Uh oh. Hope Pop doesn’t see this! 😉 Actually, I can’t believe I forgot about those shorts he used to wear throughout the 80s (to match the mesh trucker hats, natch). When I was going through pictures I was cracking up.
Thanks so much for your sweet words and for clicking in the end! I’m glad you gave a shout out to your dad – we are so lucky to have them looking out for us!
The bonding between you and your pop is really cool – seen through the photos. Anyways, I love the charm of your post-I like that I smile while reading it. Thanks for sharing – points for you and Happy Father’s Day to your dad! 🙂
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Thanks very much, Alyssa! Hearing that I made someone smile always makes my day!
So, how’d you go on that swim team? Those photos are gold…. Love your style, I smiled the whole way through this.
Ha! Great question! I confess: this post is misleading. I was a backstroke/freestyle NINJA as a kid. I still swim! You’d think the whole almost-drowning-when-I-was-2 thing would have deterred me…or maybe the lack of oxygen explains EVERYTHING…
Thank you SO much for the compliment, and for reading! 🙂
This was a great post. I love Dad stories. They are always awesome. I have a couple great ones in the archives. Gonna post another one on Father’s Day 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that – I was just listening on the radio this morning that apparently dads don’t get half the lovin’ [on Father’s Day] that moms do on Mother’s Day, so I’m sure your dad appreciates it! 🙂 Not that moms don’t deserve it…crud…Babs, are you reading this? I love you more.
I love this post! Ur writing is so intriguing!
Thanks!
stumbled upon this randomly while eating a doublecheeseburger, realized that I purchased said cheesburger from the exact BK you are referencing, across the highway from Bowcraft amusement park on Route 22. Very trippy
Ha ha! Get OUT! I can’t believe Bowcraft is still there. I think carnival ghosts and the spirit of that fortune telling machine from “Big” are keeping it alive.
I hope you enjoyed your double cheeseburger, and thanks so much for reading (and blowing my mind)! 🙂
my dad is now gone…but he was awesome and a total genius……he could fix anything and everything…….and he was so funny……..no one could tell a really lame story as entertainingly as my dad…….voices,faces,body language and incredible sillyness…….he sucked you in and would lead you away on this silly adventure which you just could not help following and then at the end he said or did something really pathetic and made you laugh until you cried…………..i miss my dad.
What great memories you have of your dad! It makes me smile just reading this!
This post got me all senti I almost cried…. I just lost my daddy in April. Thanks for sharing you really wamred up my heart today!
I’m so very sorry to hear about your dad; my thoughts are with you, and I’m sure his memory is alive and well this Father’s Day. Thanks so much for reading 🙂
🙂 thanks for sharing ❤ Happy Father's Day to your daddy dearest
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. Maybe that worthy designation was your “extra points,” or was it your father jumping in the pool again? Either way, well done.
Bruce
(P.S. I wrote about my dad for Father’s Day, too.)
Hi Bruce! Thanks so much for stopping by, and for your kind words! I’m sure my dad would dole out some points to you right now if you had any interest in a strawberry shake.
Happy father’s Day!
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
awesome post and pics!
Thanks so much! And Happy Friday, the most magical day of the week!
my father was a great man, and he still great
I’m very glad to hear it – thanks so much for stopping by!
Get a Whopper for the occasion, I suggest. 🙂
Good thinking, Kathy! I think I need to revamp our whole Father’s Day menu, in fact…
Loved reading this post. I’m very much attached to my dad, too. So, I can really relate to w hat you’ve said. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Thanks so much, Roshni – and I’m so glad to hear that about your dad!
Reblogged this on fashionthroughbinoculars and commented:
Great Father’s Day Stuff!
Thanks very much!
Aw. That is super sweet 🙂 It’s pretty special to be able to read in the car without getting sick!
Thank you so much! And I KNOW, it really is an underappreciated skill. Just think of the possibilities… He could have read the whole Burger King menu to us before we ever got there.
What a sweet post! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.
I miss my dad terribly. I don’t know if he’d know what to tell me to get my wife back, but I’d love to ask for his advice.
Hi Durk – thank you so much! I’m sure your dad is still looking out for you, and I wish you all the best 🙂
Very cute. Love his point system. That is genius. 🙂
Val
http://valentinedefrancis.blogspot.com
Thanks so much, Val! He really is a genius, LOL 😉
This is gorgeous! Really delightful! I have snuck a look around at your blog and it seems it is all like that! Keep going! It’s a joy! 🙂
Thank you so much, Gigi! (I love your name.) That is so nice of you to say 🙂
I had a chubby bum as well 😛 Ah! Miss those days 🙂 Kudos to the dad 🙂
haha! I wish I could say I didn’t STILL have a chubby bum… 😉
😉 So true.. I kinda have one tho 😛
Hey, BFF – great post. Sounds like a great dad, too. And I’m sure he’ll get that “Making a steak while reading in the car” thing if he keeps at it.
Thanks, Bestie! Are we coordinating cummerbunds for the Bloggys again this year? I’ll ask my dad to come so he can read the program while we’re in the limo. Hopefully he’ll be able to feed us, too. I got so lightheaded last year.
One of my favourite memories of my Dad being cool was when I was about 10 years old. It was just the two of us at home for dinner that night, he’d cooked us something yummy and had dished up and put our plates on the table. I dont quite know what happened but the next thing I knew I’d knocked my plate onto the floor, dinner kersplat on the kitchen lino…. He didnt even say anything, just sighed and got up and made it all over again for me….I thought he’d flip his lid but he didnt. I love him for that, well thats just one of the reasons 🙂
Oh, thank you so much for sharing this story! It really made me smile. Parents have the patience of saints. No wonder I’m dragging my feet with having kids – I would have a lot to live up to! 🙂
I love your dad post, so sweet and funny at the same time! Dads are great,
that picture of your dad in barrettes says it all!
Thank you so much! Getting to look at those old pictures was a BLAST! 🙂
Congratulations on being freshly pressed! We all have that awkward time growing up where we realize our parents aren’t perfect. So many of us never get past that to see the full, messy humanity of our folks and love them warts and all. I’m glad you took the time to remember the work your Dad put in during the early years!
Thank you very much! And I couldn’t agree more; I get very frustrated when grown adults still won’t let go of their parents’ mistakes, and then blame them [their parents] when they make their own!
Sweet. Great title. Congrats on freshly pressed!
Thanks so much, Karyl!
Such a nice post, makes me remember my crazy father. He used to tell me that aliens are very keen on abducting children, and they can be gone for weeks. With a totally serious face, and I believed in it for ages. Every night I was afraid to go to sleep because of the comming aliens.
Once he brought home a huge bug. I asked, what for papa?
He will now be our pet, – he said. So we were growing that bug for half a year. Everyone who was comming around were amazed.
During teenage years, I used to be kind of a pot smoker – and my father wanted to teach me a lesson. So everyday, when I was comming back home, after couple of spliffs he would force me to play chess with him for hours. Oh man, with my head not working at all…
Ha ha! Oh, thank you for sharing such great and funny memories of your dad – he sounds wonderful! Someone else had a story about their dad pretending to BE an alien once he shaved off his beard, LOL! Too funny.
The chess story is going to have me laughing for days… 🙂
So great to drop in on a blog I’ve never been to. muwahahahahahaha!!!!
Jules, you crack me up as usual. Sounds like he could have been related to my dad.
Favorite line: “Those were the days, back when trans fat was what was for dinner.” Ah, the good old days, when fat was really fat. I sure miss them. And why has obesity gone UP since we’ve done away with that??
Happy Father’s Day, Father Chipmunk!
MJ! It’s always a treat to ‘see’ you! 🙂 Don’t even get me started on my conspiracy theories about why we’ve gotten so fat… LOL (Did I ever tell you conspiracy theories are one of my guilty pleasures?)
And a very happy Father’s Day to you, my friend!
Thank you, Jules.
You know, I thought I saw you during my alien abduction. You were sitting by Elvis and Marilyn, right?
This is such a wonderful post!! 🙂
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed, you deserve it!
Thank you so much – that is really nice of you to say! 🙂
Your picture is so frickin’ CUTE!! I just want to pinch your cheeks!!
Ha! JM, I suppose I would have made an exception for you. (I was NOT a fan of the cheek pinching as a kid. …Is any kid?)
I really laughed when I read your story. Funny how alot of families used points and food. Being from Cincinnati though we went to White Castles and not Burger King. Thanks for sharing.
Nice post. Looking for that BK….
http://www.flyinphilsphotos.com/amuse/nj/play/2008-01-27/album0
This is a great post, I’m glad to have found your blog and congratulate your FP accomplishment. I’m tempted to visit the local Burger King now, this post definitely made me smile. Reminds me of the fun/silly/don’t-tell-Mom-about-this with my own Dad. Love the guy!
Blessings,
Nicole @ Three 31
http://nicoleandkevin.wordpress.com/
Hi Nicole! Thanks so much! I know – it kind of made me want a strawberry shake! LOL My dad and I used to get those from BK all the time.
loved your post!
Check out this picture of my Dad here –> http://hipsterapproved.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hip-book-review-dads-are-the-original-hipsters/
That was a GREAT picture!
Thanks!
Haha I loved your story! I remember when my dad kinda saved my life….I was a silly two year old (maybe suicidal)…..I looked my dad straight in the eye, and stuck my finger in the plug socket, because he always yelled at me not do that. (He’s come to realize that he should not tell me what to do, but rather make suggestions on what to think about doing instead…….)
Anyways, he ran over yanked my finger out and then spanked me (hence saving me?). I’ve never stuck my finger daringly into a plug socket again…..but, I’ve done other stupid things fearlessly.
Thank you, Sana! And HA! Wow. I’m glad you lived to tell the tale – and apparently still have the mental faculties to type even after being electrocuted! 😉 Your line about ‘rather make suggestions’ really made me laugh.