50+ Lifestyles

Fathers Everywhere

By Mary Huebbe
Marketing Consultant
Ridgecrest Village

When I was young and growing up, I didn’t have a father. I did, but I didn’t really know him, and he didn’t seem to have any desire to know me.  I was the youngest of seven. There really wasn’t much time for me with him. Around the age of nine or ten, I decided I didn’t need a dad. I didn’t know what the purpose of a “father” really was. After all, I had the most amazing Mom. She taught me so much and was always there for my siblings and me.

A few years after their divorce, my Mom started dating. That was okay. She needed someone to make her smile. His name was Francis. We did so many things with this man. We would go to tracker pulls and monster truck shows. We just had fun. I accepted and enjoyed that, until my mom announced that they were going to get married. I was in shock. I was angry. I didn’t want another man hurting my Mom! I was so angry I almost caused them to break up. I would not accept it! My Mom made me go with her to tell him that she couldn’t marry him because of my feelings.

We went to his house. My Mom was crying and upset. More importantly, I noticed he was also very hurt and upset.  They both wanted me to know that my feelings mattered. If I couldn’t accept it, it wouldn’t happen. It took a while, but finally it hit me. This man didn’t just want to be my mother’s husband, he wanted to be my father. He was willing and wanted to take on all seven of us! That ended up being one of the best days of my life. I had a father! This man taught me what a father was and how wonderful a family can be when there is a man involved. We became a family, and he always put all of our needs in front of his.

I learned that a father isn’t always the person that helped bring you into the world. A father is the man that will always be there for you, good, bad, whatever. He is always there for you.

I am a lot older now.  I am still learning how important it is to have a father figure in your life.  Recently, I was blessed to be able to take two very important “Father Figures” on a trip to Washington DC on the Honor Flight. These two men are amazing fathers, as I am sure their own children would agree. I was able to hear stories from them and share in their lives. Both of these amazing men live at Ridgecrest Village where I work. They are two of the always cheerful faces I see when I am giving tours or working on projects. They are always willing to give a helping hand and support others when they need it. I don’t mean just me, but anyone that needs something. They are there, willing to help out.

These two are not the only ones. Ridgecrest Village is full of father figures and fatherly love. I would like to invite you out to meet them. We are having two open houses in June, Thursday, June 11 and Thursday, June 25 from 1 to 3 p.m.  I would love for you to come and meet the men in my life as well as the women who make up one of the largest and happiest families anyone could ever have.

Father’s Day was originally started in 1910, by Mrs. John Dodds. My Father’s Day celebrations began in 1979 with Francis Robel. I have been celebrating every day since! Please come and share stories about your father or numerous father figures on Thursday, June 25 from 1 to 3pm, at Ridgecrest Village’s Open House. From my heart I would like to say:

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing men
who are true FATHERS!