Following Frank’s footsteps

Today marks the 4th anniversary of my dad’s passing. I could write a book about Frank Arland Andrews. For many who read this, they may not have had a dad they’d like to remember. But all of us need to recognize how vital these relationships are to creating our ideas and images of who we are.

My dad was not perfect. I remember times when I thought he was a huge pain in the neck. He made us work in the yard on Saturday mornings. He made us clean up our rooms. He asked and verified how we were doing in school. He would painfully tell me what to do if my face was breaking out or if he thought my weight was not healthy.

If I lost my wallet with my dependent military ID, he’d ask the dreaded and predictable question: Where did you last leave it? To which I sarcastically replied, “Dad, if I knew where I left it I’d know where to find it!”

I just thought I should get that out of the way.

He also did tell me lovely and encouraging things. But, as with all people, there was a complexity to his personality that can’t be reduced to a single story.

I do, however, hold one picture in my mind about my dad. It is the picture below taken in 2000. Into his 90s, my dad was reading, writing, and learning. He read in one of two places in our home; in the front living room, pictured here, or on the front porch.

Here’s what Dad modeled to me:

• Read from a variety of authors and sources. Look at all those newspapers!

 

• Take notes when you read.
  • I could hardly find one of father’s books that  that didn’t have handwritten notes and outlines in the flypapers of the book. When my father died he left files of notes.

• Organize what you read.
  • His purpose was to remember what he read. He didn’t just leave a loose set of notes. He left a codex — a table of contents that revealed what he wanted to retain and retrieve. He learned to grow and more deeply understand the world.

My husband and I bought my childhood home many years ago. Daily, I find myself sitting in the same place on a couch in that same room reading books either in print or on a kindle, reading news from all kinds of sources mostly on my phone. Our home then and now has books in every room of the house. I know where my love of learning comes from. I delight to share from the diverse authors I read, what I have learned with the teams I lead. My notes are put into google docs and shared.

It isn’t often that a daughter gets to mirror her father’s life in so many ways as I had the opportunity too. Besides the navy, the big family, we both share a love for ideas, information and learning.

My dad left a legacy that has influenced how I see the world around me. Do you find yourself mirroring some aspect of your parent? Take a minute to reflect and share in the comments just how they have changed your life. Thanks Dad!