Home is where the heart is, or in my case, where my dad is.
Owl Valley is my home. It is where my little farm in Pennsylvania is, and where I have primarily lived my whole life. It is not just a little brick house, a barn and some land. The essential reason for this place being home to me is my dad, otherwise known as my best friend in the whole world.
It is not just our love for the Red Sox, James Taylor and Jeep Cherokees that form our bond. He is the most kind and loving soul I have ever come across in my lifetime. When I am away for an extended period of time, I don’t just begin to crave home. I long for my dad. I long for our endless conversations about life and love over artisanal pizza and "Scent of a Woman."
And since this is the month for appreciating fathers, I figured he’d enjoy this one.
When I was little, James Taylor music videos would play on our TV. And I would yell, “That’s my daddy!” I sincerely thought that my father was the one playing guitar on our screen in the living room. Anyone who meets my dad agrees that he bears an uncanny resemblance to the musician, even though there is no relation. My dad used to sing Taylor’s song "Sweet Baby James" to me, so the singer holds a special place in our hearts.
Throughout the years, I have gone to my dad for advice on countless occasions.
I am the first to admit that I get frustrated with the people I love. It is just a part of life. Every single time that happens, I go to my dad and vent to him until he makes me realize that they are just human, and that everyone makes mistakes. He always insists that I give people the benefit of the doubt. They are who they are, and there is nothing I can do about it. He tells me to appreciate them for their strengths and to accept their flaws because everybody has them.
When I was a child, he would put "To Kill A Mockingbird" on, and we would watch it all the time together. That’s why he started calling me Scout. At one point in the movie, Atticus puts his daughter on his lap and says, “If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." My dad has preached that since day one, and it still resonates with me today.
We share a lot of traditions, my dad and I. One thing we’ve always done, ever since I was a kid, was go to the Gettysburg battlefields. We live fairly close, so we will often go for an evening and explore the castles and go to dinner. He is a history buff, so no matter how many times we go he always teaches me something.
I hope one day I can be as passionate and excited about what I do as he is. My father owns his own business restoring and renovating old houses. It amazes me how knowledgeable he is about what he does and how much he has always enjoyed it. He has instilled in me that it is forever important to work hard at whatever it is you set your mind to and to take pride in it. After all, life is all about working hard at work worth doing.
I appreciate my dad and everything he does for me, because he does so much. He buys me bagels and coffee when we run out without me having to ask, and he always lets me choose where we go to dinner. He allows me to steal his movie collection when I go to college, and he is always there to talk when I need to. Or just listen. He somehow always knows the difference.
