Get To Know TJM: All About Our Dads!

With Father's Day coming up, we asked our staff to tell us about their Dads. Here's what we said:

Shannon Moore

Just saw a quote recently that I loved for a Father's Day gift: “Thanks for teaching me how to be a man, even though I'm your daughter.” My dad has taught me to be self sufficient, hard working, and enjoy all things outdoors. We recently built a bunk bed for my kids from the ground up. He taught me how to change a tire, use power tools, shoot a shotgun, and train for mud runs. I love not fitting in the norm of being a girl because of him. 

Being a parent, honestly, I don't know that much is different now versus then. He always pushed us (I also have a brother) to test boundaries and explore. No stone unturned kind of guy. I try to keep that mentality with my kids now too, but with a few more limitations, lol. I don't want to find out what its like to parent a kid with a broken bone ...

Matt Fischer

My dad has been one of the biggest influences on my life.  I think some of the best advice he has given me is that if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing right.  He is a man that has always shown up for his family and worked to provide us with what we need. No job was ever too small, and the act of working was a sense of pride for him, regardless of what he was doing.

One of the most important things he taught me was to be a man of integrity. Now, I often fall short, but I do keep that in my mind, and always strive to be better than I was.

He would help anyone in need and give the shirt off his back for you. He is generous to a fault, and has always been there to lend an ear or a helping hand, regardless of what is asked or when it is asked. He has been one of the most steady and unwavering people in my life, and I don't know where I would be without him.  

I think the worst joke he has is one he and his friend created in kindergarten. 

"Who is Bob White's brother? Egg White, get the yolk?".

He is so proud of this joke, and I always thought it was dumb because it didn't make sense to me. It wasn't until a couple years ago when I found out that a bobwhite is a type of quail. All of a sudden, the joke made sense.

I told him over dinner and had a laugh because I could finally tell him honestly the joke isn't as bad as I thought, I just didn't understand it (after about 35 years of hearing it). 

[Editor’s Note: That is a great example of how a Kid Joke became a Dad Joke – when it became APPARENT to Matt!]

I'm a father now, and absolutely love seeing my dad interact with his grandchildren. I don't think he can visit them without shedding a few happy tears. He often tells me with bleary eyes how playing with his grandchildren gives him the opportunity to relive his time he had with me as a child.

I also now know of all the sacrifices he made as a parent raising us three kids, and how hard parenting is. He treated us with respect and kindness, and never once made us feel small or unloved.  He showed up for us and loved us unconditionally. In summary, I have the absolute best dad ever.

Rick Cundiff

This is a tough one for me, because this will be my first Father’s Day without my dad. He was a great dad, one who had the courage to marry a 24-year-old divorced woman – in a time when divorce was still considered scandalous -- with a 4-year-old son (me).

He taught me many things over the years, including how to stand up for myself, how to think logically, and most importantly, by the way he treated my mom, how to be a good husband. He also taught me how to step up when necessary, which is why I was privileged to be able to help care for him in the last year of his life. I’d like to think I’ve made him proud. I hope so, anyway.

Courtney Cole

My dad is amazing! He isn't my dad by birth, but he is the man that stepped in and showed us what it was like to have the best dad around. I actually didn't start calling him Dad until later in life, even though he was there for the majority of mine. But he deserved that title from the beginning. He is the biggest cheerleader for all of his kids, and now grandkids. He is always there for my siblings and myself, as well as all of our kids. We all love Poppy so much!

Justin MacDonald

I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll mention it again. It’s crass, but one of the most impactful pieces of advice my Dad gave me was all throughout my youth.  I’m going to church it up a bit for the sake of the newsletter:

“Can’t died on the crap pot (toilet).”

It was his way of saying “can’t isn’t an option.” When I would say I couldn’t do or achieve something as a kid, he’d start off with that phrase. Then he’d ask me why, until we boiled down to the issue and how we could overcome it.

I can’t break that bolt loose. 

“Can’t died on the crap pot. Why not?”

It’s stuck.

“Did you spray it with WD40?”

Yes, but I can’t break it.

“Why not?”

Maybe I’m not strong enough?

“Have you given yourself enough leverage?  Let’s try a breaker bar.”

Bolt loosens.

He didn’t want me to hit a bump in the road, or a hurdle, and throw in the towel before I’d really exhausted my options on what could be done. This is an easy example, but it applied to a lot of different situations, and I believe has genuinely helped me throughout life.