I Remember Dad...

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Dad pointed out the Big Dipper to the boys. They all looked up to the night sky. Then my father told the boys to concentrate on the side of the Big Dipper that did not have the panhandle on it. He told the boys to imagine a line being drawn from the star at the base of the side of the Big Dipper to the star at the top. Then Dad told the scouts to imagine that line continuing out to the sky and that line would lead their eyes to the North Star.

My father taught me all so very much about the ways of the wild, to appreciate the midnight call of a hoot owl, to appreciate the stature and gait of the white-tailed deer, and to love and respect all of nature.

I dearly loved and respected my father. I miss him all so very much. It breaks my heart to hear a young person complain about their father, or to hear a father complain about one of his children. None of us can stop the ticking of the clock, the passing of the seasons, and the tearing off of a calendar’s pages. Love is the key to all human relations. Love knows no limitations. Love the dear ones in your life. And always forgive, forgive and forgive.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

Did You Know?

Barbie figures to make headlines in the summer of 2023, as a big budget Hollywood film focusing on the popular doll is set for release in July. Introduced in 1959, the Barbie doll has become a global icon and even inspired a painting by famed artist Andy Warhol in the 1980s. Though the precise number of Barbie dolls sold since 1959 is hard to determine, according to Mattel, which manufactures the doll, roughly 58 million Barbie dolls are sold every year. That equates to around 100 Barbie dolls sold every minute. That means Barbie has not only proven an enduring icon, but also a lucrative one. And her popularity doesn’t figure to wane any time soon, as Mattel reports Barbie has more than 14 million fans on Facebook and in excess of 1.2 million followers on Instagram.

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