May 28, 2019

The Month of June

By Mary Schricker Gemberling

“And since all this loveliness cannot be heaven, I know in my heart it is June”

Coming up with a subject to write about in my article each month can be a challenge. When June rolls around, however, the topics are many and I have to decide which one to focus on. You see, I LOVE JUNE! It’s the month when I spend countless hours gardening, making sure that the beauty of the yard and gardens far surpass previous years. It’s the month when I can begin to harvest my fresh herbs and try new recipes (Gary is such a sport as I experiment). I can finally sit on my screened porch and read in the quiet of a summer day with only the sound of the birds to quiet my soul. June is the month we honor our flag, and I get to boast that both my husband and my dad served their country with pride. Speaking of my dad, this month is also a time when many fond memories of my childhood surface as we celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June. My father passed away in 2002, and I miss him more and more with each passing year.

I remember my dad as a fairly quiet man and the epitome of a true gentleman. His Irish roots manifested themselves in his full head of thick black hair and robust sense of humor. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone nor utter a curse word. He had a limitless work ethic which has somehow been passed on to both of my sons. I grew up in a pretty traditional, middle class family in a suburb of St. Louis Missouri. In a time when most mothers were housewives, my mom worked with my father in the family business. This meant that my dad was around the house more than conventional fathers of that time. Otherwise my parents’ roles were pretty normal for that era. My mother’s domain was the interior of our home, while my dad took care of the outdoor chores and other household repairs. Most of the time, I could be found outside with my dad, quietly watching or helping whenever he would let me.  I don’t remember much conversation with my dad during my younger years, but as I became an adult we talked often. We discussed parenting, religion, politics and current events whenever we had the opportunity. During the last few years before his death, with his health declining, I spent as much time as I could with him. Most of that time was in Florida where we would lay in the sun at the pool or beach, feast on seafood, or just quietly sit on the screened porch of the condo enjoying our time together. How lucky I am to have those special memories.

I suspect a combination of environment and genetics contribute to my being like my dad in so many ways. We both tend to be positive people, who like to see the glass as half full. I am outgoing and love people like he did. My love of travel and spirit of adventure come from him. We favor hot weather over cold, and love the ocean rather than the desert. In my aging years, as I look in the mirror, I see my dad in both my hairline and the laugh lines around my eyes. So much has happened in the seventeen years since my dad died. If I had but one day to spend with him these many years later, I would brag about the three fine men his grandsons have become and share that his oldest grandson Jason (who he taught to play golf as a child) is a PGA golfer. I would want him to spend time with his great-grandchildren and impart on each of them some words of wisdom to carry with them through their lives. I would hug him and tell him all the ways he influenced me and helped me become the person I am today. And last of all I would introduce him to my husband Gary, who much like my dad has a real spirit of adventure, loves to travel, is a veteran, enjoys people, has a wonderful sense of humor, and is a man of great faith.

“The Greatest Gift I ever had came from God; I call him Dad.”

                                            ……….Author Unknown

Mary, a former educator and Seniors Real Estate Specialist, is the author of three books: The West End Kid, Labor of Love; My Personal Journey through the world of Caregiving, and Hotel Blackhawk; A Century of Elegance.

Filed Under: News

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