Things I learned from my Father

So I am *loving* that this list thing is getting everyone posting again & decided to milk a good thing. I loved reading your lists of "little known facts" and thought I'd tag onto the last "fact" that CLC came up with -- that she loves meeting other people's families. Y'all have met mine -- at least superficially in the cocktail party setting. Because that's not a true glimpse into the person, I thought I'd list things I learned from my father. (Coming soon -- things I learned from my mother & sister.) I look forward to yours!

Things I learned from my father.

1. How to drive.
2. That chicken wings can be a really good meal.
3. That it's fine to be a little messy, the world won't end.
4. The art of public speaking.
5. What to look for in real estate.
6. To look it up.
7. To love theater music.
8. That cinnamon gum is good to keep in your car. Preferably Big Red.
9. How to debate and have an opinion.
10. That he misses his father.
11. That he's proud of me.
12. How to just sit still and enjoy someone else's company without talking.
13. How to "do museums" -- an hour is about right even for the biggies like the British Museum, the Met and the Louvre. After that you lose steam and get too tired to appreciate anything.
14. That "he who has the gold makes the rules."
15. How to mingle.
16. That the key to a good party is keeping people's drinks refilled.
17. How to stand up for myself.
18. That I don't want a relationship that mimics his with my mom.
19. The importance of family, even if you don't like them.
20. That Casablanca is a fabulous movie.
21. That New York is a great city.
22. That it's okay with him if I don't do anything traditional.
23. That culture is important.
24. So is going to a ballgame and having a hot dog.
25. That leasing a car might not be economic, but you'll always drive something nice and that's worth something sometimes.
26. So is not having a car payment. So it's a toss up.
27. Pack light - you're never going to Siberia.
28. To call your mother.
29. That he'll never totally "get" me and that's fine with me - he tries.
30. That he'll always think I'm smarter than my sister, even if that isn't true, because I'm more like the son he never had.
31. That he confides in me.
32. That it's important to keep secrets. Not because he's good at it. But because he's bad at it.
33. That life can happen to you and there's no telling ahead of time how it will turn out.