15: Daniel 1:17 (Father's Day Edition)

"God gave Daniel knowledge, skill in learning, and wisdom; but Daniel also understood visions and dreams."

Lots of love to my dad for Father's Day 2020 :) I thought I would pay homage to him AND have my usual Fading Light fun with a list of songs that remind me of him for one reason or another. He is the best male role model I've ever had. For so many years he took care of my physical, spiritual and shopping needs. He has been an ox of a support system for my entire family my entire life. I love him dearly and I feel grateful that he knows that and that we have the relationship that we do. He is one of a kind, a great friend, and the best dad 😎

the Beatles - Day Tripper (1966)

When my family moved from our duplex on Fiesta to our new home on Danz, we upgraded our "free space" in a major way. Our new basement was huge and had several separate "caves" where you could alternatively set up shop to hang out or dump a pile of stuff to be untouched for seven years. In 1997, my dad and I were both taking guitar lessons, and he would practice for hours in the basement, the music floating up the stairs and jauntily bleeding through the cheap walls. "Day Tripper" was perhaps his greatest hit from that time period and whenever I hear it I think of those creaky steps leading down to our version of the Cavern Club - and, of course, my dad. 

Was (Not Was) - Somewhere in America There's a Street Named After My Dad (1988)

It is almost like the band knew in 1988 I'd be making this post 32 years later. A song my dad and I both love? Check. A song that reminds me of my dad and family spending time together? Check. The song is actually about a dad?!?! CHECK! With some of my favorite, cryptically haunting lyrics and a gorgeous instrumental and vocal to match, this song sounds like nothing else and sticks with you. "No more bland TV dinners. No ten car collisions. No showbiz beginners making global decisions. No daycare Fellinis. No fast food assassins. No billboard bikinis. Just truth and compassion." 

And although it causes me great anxiety, this post is for my father, so I need to include the completely insane but once again doubly or triply relevant Was (Not Was) - Dad I'm in Jail

Borknagar - Wild Father's Heart (2019)

A beautiful, soaring ode to nature itself. The band's druidic appreciation of our planet and man's place within makes for some incredibly powerful and moving music. This song's hopeful and searching message reminds me of my dad, the eternal seeker of truth and peace. Although the song is about an omnipotent "Father Earth" god figure, it works just as well for my dad from Peshtigo. When I think of my dad, and the inevitability of taking his place, I often think of a higher power and the peace that comes from knowing there is more to life than my experience of it. 

The Band - When You Awake (1969)

My dad and I got to bond over our shared appreciation of this album. I remember us listening to it on the drive from Green Bay to Madison when he helped me move for Sophomore year of college. We had already been listening to the album for years as a family, but now that I was sitting in the front seat I was seeing how much my dad and I had in common when it came to music. This song is just another great one off a perfect album, and once again the searching narrative of the lyrics makes me think of my pops.

Ronny Jordan featuring Guru - Season for Change (1993)

When my dad became too busy to keep up with new music, he had a reliable stoner friend who would make mixtapes for him. And not just music, either! This guy was like a fairy media father, supplying our family with outre TV, movies, and music we would never have been exposed to. This song was on one of those many mixtapes, and my sister and I fell in love with it semi-ironically. We would listen to every day on the way to school and it was a critical part of our ritual. Why? No idea. But we still quote it with glee: "You know what I'm talking about. My man Ronny Jordan knows what I'm talking about....and I know what he's talking about." 

They Might Be Giants - Fingertips (1992)

It is good to know this album came out in 1992, because this was the first album I recall in our new minivan, the case resting neatly in the leather sack my dad's carphone came in. The album cover, liner notes, zany lyrics and song titles all appealed greatly to a nine year old boy. The band's musicianship and ability to explore every genre in one album made their stuff ideal for road trips. Every album felt like a real journey, and we played them all on our many, many trips together. Other albums were more popular later on, but the impact this had on our family and its minivan can't be overstated.

The Jerky Boys - Sol's Nude Beach (1993)

For the impact this had on my dad and I's ability to have an amusing conversation, I would have thought it was twenty minutes long. When I found out that I could make my dad laugh by quoting some of the more absurd and dirty lines from this tape, it was absolutely game over. "Sol's Nude Beach" was an early favorite. When my dad would pick me up from school, if we weren't listening to the tape, we were quoting it. The ability to insert Jerky Boys characters into serious conversations about family and school became impossible to resist, and my dad would have to remind me, "No Frank Rizzo at Grandma's." We loved this tape so much that we were the only two people in America to see the Jerky Boys movie! On the Mount Rushmore of Jack and Dan Gremmer media bonding, it would be Seinfeld, The Jerky Boys, the Beatles, and Glengarry Glen Ross.

Jimmy Cliff - You Can Get It If You Really Want (1972)

If we had a counter going for the 12+ years we lived on Fiesta Lane, I would guess this was the most played song. No surprise, the song's message of pursuing what you want relentlessly applied to everyone in the house, including our chocolate chunk of a dachshund Mister "Max" Winters. I have very fond memories of listening to Jimmy Cliff records in the basement while my dad worked on copywriting and Max farted by the space heater. 

It is almost stupid how blessed and safe my childhood was. I credit my mom for seeing a big picture and being willing to work for it. I credit my dad for always having the energy for his kids no matter how much else he was doing. 

I also want to shout out my grandfathers. They were both kind and caring grandparents to me and Josie, and clearly they did at least a thing or two right as parents because I like my mom and dad a lot. So, Henry and Larry, cheers to you both and know you are in my heart.

Dad, have a great day today, tomorrow, and until I tell you otherwise, damnit! All the love from me, Sara, Doodle, and Bubby.

To everyone else, thank you for reading and take care 💗💙💚💛💜