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June 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We ask that you gratefully acknowledge the spirit of Father's
Day which is celebrated on June 21, 2009! This Father's Day, we
might take a few moments to consider the following two essential
questions: “What do you do to honor your father? What do your
children do to honor their father as well?” We often give cards
and gifts. Perhaps we get together with the entire family and
have a cookout to celebrate.
This Father's Day, let your dad or your children's dad, really
know how special he is to you. When filling out that card, say a
little more. If you see him, let him know. Remember too that
Father's Day is not the only day this can be done, but every day!
To all the fathers, have a Happy Father's Day!
"All that we are we will pass on to our children - our
loves, our hopes, our dreams, and our character.
Therefore let your thoughts be planted in rich soil and let
your actions stand tall in a child's eyes.
Just as fruit does not fall far from the tree, children do not
stray far from their heroes." -Anon
Based on our school's on-going commitment to Character
Education, I hope you enjoy reading the following inspirational,
yet true to life story about Father's Day:
The Coolest Dad in the Universe
He was 50 years old when I was born, and a "Mr. Mom" long
before anyone had a name for it. I didn't know why he was home
instead of Mom, but I was young and the only one of my friends
who had their dad around. I considered myself very lucky.
Dad did so many things for me during my grade-school years. He
convinced the school bus driver to pick me up my house instead of
the usual bus stop that was six blocks away. He always had my
lunch ready for me when I came home – usually a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich that was shaped for the season. My favorite
was at Christmas. The sandwiches would be sprinkled with green
sugar and cut in the shape of a tree.
As I got a little older, I tried to gain my independence. I wanted
to move away from those "childish" signs of his love. But he
wasn't going to give up. In high school and no longer able to go
home for lunch, I began taking my own. Dad would get up a little
early and make it for me. I never knew what to expect. The
outside of the sack might be covered with his rendering of a
mountain scene (it became his trademark) or a heart inscribed
with "Dad-n-Angie K.K." in its center. Inside there would be a
napkin with that same heart or an "I love you." Many times he
would write a joke or a riddle, such as "Why don't they ever call
it a "momsicle" instead of a popsicle?" He always had some silly
saying to make me smile and let me know that he loved me.
I used to hide my lunch so no one would see the bag or read the
napkin, but that didn't last long. One of my friends saw the
napkin one day, grabbed it, and passed it around the lunchroom.
My face burned with embarrassment. To my astonishment, the
next day all my friends were waiting to see the napkin. From the
way they acted, I think they all wished they had someone who
showed them that kind of love. I was so proud to have him as my
father. Throughout the rest of my high school years, I received
those napkins, and still have a majority of them.
And still it didn't end. When I left home for college (the last one
to leave), I thought the messages would stop. But my friends and
I were glad that his gestures continued. I missed seeing my dad
every day after school and so I called him a lot. My phone bills
got to be pretty high. It didn't matter what we said; I just
wanted to hear his voice. We started a ritual during that first
year that stayed with us. After I said good-bye he always said,
"Angie?" "Yes, Dad?" I'd reply. "I love you." "I love you, too, Dad."
I began getting letters almost every Friday. The front-desk staff
always knew who the letter was from - the return address said
"The Hunk." Many times the envelopes were addressed in crayon
and along with the enclosed letters were usually drawings of our
cat and dog, stick figures of him and Mom, and if I had been
home the weekend before, of me racing around town with friends
and using the house as a pit stop. He also had his mountain scene
and the heart-encased inscription, "Dad-n-Angie K.K."
The mail was delivered every day right before lunch, so I'd have
his letters with me when I went to the cafeteria. I realized it
was useless to hide them because my roommate was a high school
friend who knew about his napkins. Soon it became a Friday
afternoon ritual. I would read the letters, and the drawing and
envelope would be passed around.
It was during this time that Dad became stricken with cancer.
When the letters didn't come on Friday, I knew that he had been
sick and wasn't able to write. He used to get up at 4:00a.m. so he
could sit in the quiet house and do his letters. If he missed his
Friday delivery, the letters would usually come a day or two later.
But they always came. My friends used to call him "Coolest Dad in
the Universe."
And one day they sent him a card bestowing that title, signed by
all of them. I believe he taught all of us about a father's love. I
wouldn't be surprised if my friends started sending napkins to
their children. He left an impression that would stay with them
and inspire them to give their own children their expression of
their love.
Throughout my four years of college, the letters and phone calls
came at regular intervals. But then the time came when I decided
to come home and be with him because he was growing sicker, and
I knew that our time together was limited. Those were the
hardest days to go through. To watch this man, who always acted
so young, age past his years. In the end he didn't recognize who
I was and would call me the name of a relative he hadn't seen in
many years. Even though I knew it was due to his illness, it still
hurt that he couldn't remember my name.
I was alone with him in his hospital room a couple of days before
he died. We held hands and watched TV. As I was getting ready
to leave, he said, "Angie?"
"Yes, what is it, Dad?"
"I love you."
"I love you, too, Dad."
-Angie K. Ward-Kucer
To all of our fathers, grandfathers and families, we wish you all a
very Happy Father’s Day!
Sincerely yours,
Sylvia A. Epstein, Principal
"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our
children. One is roots; the other, wings." -H. Carter