Father Says

Joe Siccardi

This is a blog written by Joe Siccardi, editor and publisher of the Reveille Between the Lakes. Seneca Daily and the Reveille collaborate on stories from time to time.

When I Grow Up – While most kids my age wanted to be doctors or firemen, I wanted to be a – ready? – bus driver! As a backup I chose garbage man! I thought those were cool jobs.

Not Perfect … Forgiven – A perfect marriage? No, definitely not, although given our naivete and youth, our divergent backgrounds and baggage, it was about as close as you could come.

Life’s Playlist (Connecting the Dots) –  Every track had a special meaning for either or both of us. They were more than just nostalgic songs. They tell a story of our life, each one a chapter.

XX’s OO’s and the Game of Life – Do we make the adjustments? Our Coach may scream the changes, but are we listening? Are our xx’s and oo’s restricting us? Do we feel we have to be the hero?

Traditions – When I was growing up, we picked out our tree a couple of weeks before Christmas, put it up the weekend before Christmas and decorated it Christmas Eve day. 

Wheeze, Rattle – The girls in my life – from my nurse practitioner, to my daughters and daughters-in-law, to my special friends – will keep close tabs on me, despite myself.

Picture Perfect – Life is not picture perfect. Up close, you see the irregularities, but when viewed from a distance, the landscape comes into focus and looks entirely different.

Ouch … Oowe … Ow –  Life is not picture perfect. Up close, you see the irregularities, but when viewed from a distance, the landscape comes into focus and looks entirely different.

Thanksgiving Traditions – Your value doesn’t go down because someone mistreated you. You are still the apple of God’s eye. You are still His most prized possession.

Happy, Happy Birthday Sweetheart – I’ve picked boring movies, cruddy TV shows, ugly ties and funny clothes, awful restaurants and tasteless wines. But when it comes to picking wives, I sure picked a winner!

LOL – I duct taped a plastic coated tablecloth to the remnants of canvas. It actually worked unless it rained hard or you drove over 35mph for more than five minutes.

With a Song in My Heart – This week was different. Stop by stop, I intentionally went into the stores with a whistle and a smile. And each time my in and out time was extended.

A Time to Heal – It should never be okay to belittle or lie or fudge the facts until they are unrecognizable. There has to be some personal responsibility.

A Senior Moment – Senior citizens and the elderly people of any community are such a great resource to those they share there life experiences with, and we need to engage them.

Surprise – That’s the challenge we all have, finding unexpected joys as we grudge through the daily routines of life. The everyday rituals can wear you down.

Grandma – You wonder how one life touches others. At the cemetery, my cousin wept on my shoulder, “I lost my best friend,” and all I could say was, “I know what you mean.”

The Silly Season – The point of the study — I think — was silliness in the home helps kids realize we’re all human, do dumb things, make each other laugh. And that’s a good thing.

Words for the Week – My “words” experience also was a key impetus for starting this blog. I hope my new audience also gives me feedback, telling me when the message is just “right.”

Dion Shares His Truth – “I was flooded with white light. It was everywhere, inside me, outside me–everywhere, Ahead of me I saw a man with his arms outstretched. ‘I love you,’ he said.

Have I got a deal for you … Then you have smart phones. In my neck of the woods, I’m lucky to complete a call let alone worry about 3G or even 4G. What ads leave you scratching your head?

Don’t Flinch – I admit the pain is still there. But I know by faith God hasn’t forgotten me and still has a greater plan. I just have to remember to be still and listen.

Pepperoni Dreams – Do you dream? I mean, vivid, right there in the action dream? I do … especially after eating sausage or stick pepperoni, good old greasy sausage or pepperoni…

Going Home – If I’m getting overwhelmed, I’ll head down to the Jersey shore, sometimes for just a couple of hours. As I breathe in the salty air, I can feel the anxiety ebb.