I’ve been thinking for awhile about starting a blog for my business, K. Weatherwax Photography, and the inspiration came to me this morning, on Father’s Day, 2008. The inspiration was a near tragedy in a local park yesterday. I was there with a high school senior, her mom and little sister. The senior girl wanted pictures from the suspension bridge that spans Deer Creek. While on the bridge, we became distracted by the panicked cries from a little girl, maybe all of 6 years old. She was in trouble in the water, struggling to keep her head about water and failing at that - and drifting under the bridge. Her two brothers (maybe 7 and 8) were nearby, the youngest of them also struggling in the water. Fortunately, some other swimmers in the area, 14-year-old D.J. and his 13-year-old friend (sorry, I’ve forgotten your name), pulled them all to safety. (You guys are heroes!) The elephant in the room – where were the parents of these three young children? I later learned that the dad was home, didn’t know where the children were and was angry with them when he learned they had been swimming in the creek. The person to blame, in my opinion, is that dad. How was it that he didn’t know where his kids were? He will never know how close he came to losing a child that day.
Well, I lost some sleep over this last night – images of that little girl panicking in the water – and I flash back to fifty years ago when I was a child (yes, I’m getting older (but wiser, too, right?)). I can still hear the words of my father instructing my siblings and me on how to survive in the water. “If you get in trouble, don’t panic. You can survive a long time by treading water. When you get tired, roll over on your back, relax and float.” Then, he made each of us practice until he was confident we had mastered this. I have never forgotten that lesson and can still hear his voice and feel the love with which he delivered his lesson.
It is not lost on me that I was very fortunate to have such a loving dad. The last time I saw my father was on Father’s Day, 2005. He passed away three years ago this month and I miss him very much, but he lives on in my heart – and his lessons helped to shape who I am.
So, if you can, take a picture of your dad today and tell him that you love him. If you can’t take a picture, send him a prayer of thanks … and learn how to tread water.
