Father's Day Marbles
My dad is 85 - and his hair, once black and shiny, is now snow-white and shiny. His strength, which when I was a young teen seemed more like toughness and unyielding stubbornness, is a sense of comfort to me now. I see it not as the stumbling block to my teen-aged shenanigans, but rather as the fuel and attitude that is helping to prolong his life. And this thought makes me feel happy, lucky, and blessed.
I've learned a lot from my dad. Not all the lessons were easy ones, but nevertheless, learn, I did. As I've gotten older, I've gained wisdom of my own. I'm much more able to appreciate his perspective and personality, and in fact, I love to hear him talk about his younger days.
One of the many things my dad has shared with me over the years is a small marble collection which he has kept safe among his belongings throughout his more than eight decades of experiences. I love the fact that he still has "most of his marbles," which is a flip twist of words but in his case, entirely true. My dad is as vibrant, persnickety, and interested in life as he ever was, though perhaps less physically able to climb the mountains he used to climb. No matter. He tends his garden, and takes road trips with his dwindling group of buddies who band together in a club they call the Dirty Old Men.
Dad's small collection of marbles are beautiful, and represent a world of memories for him. Shiny, round, colorful orbs of glass, they could easily travel with him in a leather pouch in his pocket, and show up on the ground just about anywhere for a game of "ringer" that could keep him and his pals entertained for long periods of time. Friends, engaged in a group effort, spending time together having fun.
This kind of camaraderie is important no matter which generation you belong to. Though I don't see kids playing this game today, the allure of marbles lives on. I discovered several websites that are dedicated to marbles, and for some reason, it warms my heart. Some things never change. Check out Mega Glass or Land of Marbles for fun and games, and a stroll down memory lane.
Happy Father's Day, Dad. Thanks for sharing your marbles with me.
