Fatherly Reflections

My Dad is my biggest fan here at InkStain'D. He was my very first subscriber, and I know he will get a notification that this post has gone live. So, on this Father's Day, I think it is only right to give a little back to him.

My Dad is the coolest 82 year old that I know.

In addition to putting up with my own nonsense for a lot of years, he frequently would take his grandchildren to the park, accidentally getting one stuck pushing them endlessly on the swings, melted softened their ice-cream in the microwave, supporting lego building marathons, and has spent countless hours job searching for more than one of his children. He would play cribbage with my mother and my grandma, even though he hated cards, with hardly a no complaint. He is a patient listener, offering his advice when we seek it out and sometimes when we don't.

He is smart and knows about just all kinds of things. Technology doesn't phase him. He has used a computer for many years, and he does way more than check email. He's set up devices like Apple TV, and yes, he even tweets. He stalks follows me on Twitter to make sure I'm doing ok, and if I am MIA for a while, he faithfully checks in. And he loves to read, everything from blogs to historical books.

Where was this guy during those Lego marathons?

The one thing he loved, that drove me crazy (yes, I was an ungrateful child!) I under appreciated as I grew up, was his love of the pipes. No, not the kind that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford allegedly has used according to some missing video out there someplace, but yes the bonafide bagpipes. He has a kilt, and suffered through endless questions of what pipers wear under their kilts (think about it, what would you wear under it all if you were wearing a kilt?)

So as a nod to my biggest fan, this Father's Day, I'd love to share a story with him that blends two of his passions - the pipes and history. So just for my Dad on this Father's Day I'd like to share this story about the pipes and D-Day. He might already know it, because he knows just about everything. But I'll share it anyway ;)


And before I start, for clarification, I don't mean D-Day as in Diabetes Day, as is the norm for this blog. Certainly there is no shortage of "D" things mentioned here. I mean D-Day as in the D-Day.


Now, due to stupid copyright laws and such, I'm going to share the story by link, because I'm just very sure the Economist wouldn't give me license to reprint here. I'll start with a question.

What was the last tune they had piped on D-Day in Normandy? 

Read all about it here.

As I reflect on my years since he brought me onto this planet, I see little bits of my Dad in me. But one day, I hope that I can be as smart and cool as him.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!