What would Daddy think?

My father would be 98 today, October 10, if he were still living. I’ve often wondered over the years since he died in 1986 – at the young age of 66 – what he would be thinking about the world if he were still with us.

I’m pretty sure he would be astounded to see people of all ages walking around seemingly talking to themselves. In fact, I’m still occasionally taken off guard by it myself and I’ve been exposed to the phenomenon for years. I was in the grocery store this past weekend and heard a woman talking about how mad she was. I looked around to see if I had somehow offended her.

She hadn’t even noticed I was in the vicinity so wasn’t addressing me. And she didn’t have a phone in her hand, either – she was busy loading groceries into her cart. There was, however an earbud visible in her ear. When I passed her later in another aisle, she was still talking up a storm – to no one visible to my eyes.

What would Daddy have thought?

While always skeptical about politicians in general, he would be aghast at the condition of governing today. Grown men – leaders of our country – acting like bratty kids, hurtling insults, threats and verbal assaults at each other. He would undoubtedly be appalled, sure he had mistakenly walked into a horror movie scene in the making.

I can’t even imagine what would be going through his head if he were privy to the twittering wars we’re exposed to almost daily.

David Self was a man of honor and believed that all people deserved to be treated with dignity and respect – no matter what.

He never talked ugly about anyone, even those he didn’t particularly like or trust. He just didn’t think it was worth it to take the low road. (I did hear him one time call a local politician a “bald-faced liar” but that’s the extent of his bad-mouthing – at least that I ever heard.)

Integrity was important to him: If you said you were going to do something, do it! Or get back to the person you said it to, take responsibility for why you’re not doing it and re-negotiate.

He couldn’t stand for people to just blow off their agreements and promises to others. And it irked him for people to make promises they had no way – or intention – of keeping in the first place.

From my point of view, albeit prejudiced, he was a far-sighted, clear-headed, loving man and a noble leader with big visions that transcended ordinary boundaries. He was committed to education, believing it crucial for achieving equality in life. And he was a champion for equality of all — minorities, women, homosexuals, economically deprived people, and others.

What would he think today? I wish I could talk to him right now and find out.

I sure do miss him. Happy Birthday Daddy!!