Happy Father's Day

Although today is bittersweet for us (for our Church friends, you won't see us there), I am appreciative of this day in which we get to honor our Fathers.

My dad - born in a small eastern Nevada town called Panaca. Lived a simple life there with no indoor plumbing, taking baths on Saturdays in an iron tub in the middle of the kitchen. I always loved that story. Dad is number 4 of 5 kids, Uncle Gary, Uncle Derril, Aunt Judy, Dad, and Aunt Mary.

Dad is a fun loving man (many of my friends were scared to death of him cause they thought he was so mean). He loves to tell jokes, to laugh, and to see other's laugh but not at the expense of someone else. Dad is a good provider. He worked two jobs while I was growing up. By day he was a mild mannered barber, eating lunch at the Rainbow club or the Pac-Out drive in. He came home at 6:00 every night, we ate dinner, and Dad went to work as a janitor at Gordon McCaw Elementary School. Our treat, was to be able to go with Dad to clean the school. We had a great life.

Dad is a good example to his children. He's pretty squeamish, but when push comes to shove, he is in for the long haul. Dad has great compassion. After Grandma Helen had her strokes and was living between Mom and Dad's and Aunt Aurella's house, Dad modified the bathroom so that they could wheel Grandma in and she could be bathed. Dad even helped Mom bath Grandma even though it made him very uncomfortable to do it. I believe that this prepared Dad for the trials that Mom would endure with her cancer.

Dad is a loving husband. He stood by Mom, held her hand, comforted her, and in the end, showed great compassion and strength as Mom slipped the earthly bonds of this life, reuniting with her parents and Audrey on the other side of the veil. Dad bid farewell to his best friend, his partner, his loving wife, all the while standing strong in the faith and knowledge that he will see her again on the other side. He comforted us, his children when we should have been comforting him instead.

I Love my Dad. He is the greatest Dad on the earth. I'm thankful that he and Mom decided to have six kids, to bring us here to learn and to grow. To experience Joy and Sorrow, and to learn to be humble.

Even though we're far apart, we talk all the time, we laugh, we cry, we counsel with each other, we share one another's burdens. Richard G. Price Sr., thanks for being my Dad.

For the rest of you men out there - Happy Father's Day!

Jim