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  • ImaProfessional1 [he/him,comrade/them]
    ·
    edit-2
    4 years ago

    Hand make and write a card. You seem to have enough positive feelings towards the gentleman, considering you took the time to write out this post. Do a silly drawing, leave the front blank, do whatever. But on the inside just be blunt: Hey Dad, You’ve do so much for me and I’m grateful. I mean, not exactly that. But be frank.

    I have bought my father gifts, made him incredibly nice things (I’m an all hand tool woodworker, so on top of the actual thing, there’s the time it takes to find rough lumber, cut it down, smooth it, layout pieces, hand saw joints, glue up, and the long process of doing the finishing by hand. It takes awhile when you don’t use sandpaper or electricity), given gift cards, donated money in his name... everything. But when I was helping my dad move, I learned he kept every single card I wrote him. And the ones that were handmade were the most “protected” of the bunch. The Hallmark envelopes were haphazardly stacked near the ribbon bound cards going back to before I could spell properly. Btw, my Dad and I have a very juvenile relationship. So I made a snarky comment about the “queer-ass” ribbon he kinda did one of those “freeze up” faces. And his eyes welled up and he said that those were the most important personal possessions he has. Just even thinking about them makes him tear up. It’s nuts. Now, not everyone is the same, your mileage may vary, etc... but a piece of folded up printer paper (cards I made at a young age) with some words on it meant everything to him... its crazy. (And frustrating, Hey Dad! I spent 80+ hours on a set of bedside tables that match your bed frame exactly! It took 3 months to find the right wood! I almost cut off the tip of my finger with a razor sharp chisel! - that is equal to - I love you dad on an otherwise blank page...)

    Or you can buy him a Hustler magazine and a six pack of Schlitz Tall Boys. Maybe a lotto card and gas station cigar if you’re swimming in cash.