Saturday, June 20, 1998
Listen
GK: It's Father's Day on Sunday, one of the minor American holidays, like Arbor Day or James Garfield's Birthday ---- and certainly not as big as Mother's Day, because we know that Motherhood involves real pain and fatherhood is more like a wild impulse.. ..(TK: HOWL SS: ANSWERING HOWL). And that's why your dad doesn't expect any present for Father's Day, do you, Dad?
TR (JIMMY STEWART): That's right, son. The only gift I want from you is just knowing that you remember some of what I taught you. I taught you how to fish, son ---- and I taught you parallel parking. I taught you that it's manly to have good manners, espe cially around womenfolk. I taught you to look ahead and to save for a rainy day. And I taught you to always tell the truth. Always. No matter what.
GK: Did you always tell the truth, Dad?
TR: And I taught you to respect your father.
GK: Sorry.
TR: And I taught you to be kind to animals. Like Sheppy, here. (DOG BARK) And Beauty. (HORSE WHINNY) And I taught you to always tell the truth. Always. No matter what.
GK: Dad, we don't think you should drive a car anymore.
TR: And I taught you not to interrupt your father when he's talking to you.
GK: Sorry.
TR: That's the only Father's Day gift I would ever want, is knowing that you still remember some of what I tried to teach you. Did I mention parallel parking?
GK: Yes, you did. Happy Father's Day. Dad. And I'm glad that way back when, on that beautiful spring or summer or fall or winter night (TK HOWL & SS ANSWERING HOWL)--- glad it was you and not someone else.
(c) 1998 by Garrison Keillor
