Notes from Dotes

In the outback the past few days
And the next two days we'll be camping out at cattle ranches.

But before continuing with the travelogue, I need to tell you about my father.

Not there this year for Father's Day or his birthday has left me missing him terribly.

As I stared out the window of the bus for hours, I tried to come up with one statement that I think best describes him.

Somewhere around hour 5, I settled on it.

My father enhances.

It's as simple as that.

What?

Everything.

To know Benjamin Boyd is to be reminded of how magical our time is on this Earth.

The food, oh the food tastes so much better

As he stands over you, waiting for your reaction to his latest creation...wanting, needing to know that what he's made makes you happy

He lives to make you happy

Sometime, when everyone else was told to get in line and pick up their standard negative attitude to take along the journey with them, my father veered off the path.

So far off the path he missed the entire lesson.

He doesn't understand why people hide what they're feeling.

What do you mean I'm not supposed to tell someone I love them every single time it crosses my mind, even if that means a 15 second phone conversation?

He keeps it simple.

He loves you, he tells you.

He appreciates you, he tells you.

He never misses a moment to make someone else feel like they're meant to be alive.

We all have an incredibly important and powerful purpose when he's around.

I cannot stress this enough.

He makes us feel as though we are truly meant to be here.

In a world where you are told you are replaceable, you are ordinary, you are part of the general masses, my father forces you to recognize the influence that you can have over other people's lives, if by no other way than through his own example.

The music, the loudest claps I've ever heard, the way he cranks up a song that he likes, the slow sways to the music, the man commands a dance floor

And his quiet whistle that I can pick out from hundreds of feet away...it is his own song and when the notes hit my ears I instantly feel safe

Our best stories involve him

He is our muse
He makes things happen
And people instantly connect with him because he's genuine
There is nothing to hide, why waste the time?

Precious time.

Time to gather us around and tell a story.
And when his eyes connect with yours, you are there with him
As he sets the scene and builds to the climax, you want to be a part of all his stories

You yearn to have him speak about you.
Because you hear how he talks about those he loves.

His pride is captivating and contagious
You need him to be proud of you

The sights, that Opera House looked 100 times more beautiful as I stood beside my father.

His discerning eyes...he makes you notice, he makes you appreciate, he never lets you forget the little miracles

He is a cartoon
A collection of all the things we're too afraid to show

But not my father

Crowd around, try to get closer
Because upon meeting him you intrinsically know

And you become part of it
This enormous group that is blessed enough to know what the man is all about

The statement always the same, "Your dad, he's....he's..."

I know.

Welcome to the club.


Happy Fathers Day/Birthday Dad, I love you so much.