To paraphrase my father, Art, we haven't had the traditional relationship. That was because of things beyond our control. However, being there when it matters most is more important than most people will never know.
Those moments are very profound especially as you get older. My dad was there as I got my high school diploma. He was there when I moved to Cincinnati for the first time. He was there for the birth of my son and he is there right now as I go through a very difficult transition from one career to becoming my own boss.
My wife called him a little over a week ago and asked him to check on me. He called and gave his support and encouragement. I broke down a little because I really didn't expect it. However, it was very welcomed especially from a man who'd done so much for me already.
What he did next was also totally unexpected when he flew my wife and I to his home here in Florida. The weeks of stress I've endured are a distant memory and more importantly, I'm learning that we are a lot more alike than I ever knew. We're both damned good at our chosen profession. We're both very laid back and we both got it right in our current marriages and our wives spoil us rotten.
This visit has given us time to bond more and his home is full of images that give me more Insight as to who I am. We spent Sunday afternoon watching the Masters, which was fun for me because he is an avoid golfer and I sat there soaking up any knowledge he shared like a sponge. By the way, my golf game really sucks.
There's an unspoken thing between fathers and sons that deals with wanting to work together at some point. One of my proudest moments came from being able to voice a commercial for his business. I've won a few awards for my work, but this was far more satisfying. As I write this, he's using his expertise to help my business in getting off the ground. More importantly, his willingness to share his knowledge and encouragement give me more confidence to continue with my dream. I also take pride in the fact that his imprint will be part of the foundation of Mark Gunn Media.
Like I said before, being there when it really counts is important, but in the case of my dad and I, just being there is priceless. I'll always love him for that.
