Pre-Ramble: I thought writing a blog for my father for Father’s Day would be a breeze — my dad is a fairly straightforward guy: 

• He has been married to my mother for over 50 years
• He put on a suit everyday and went to work as a mechanical engineer
• He put himself through college
• He put me through college (!)
• He served in the Air Force
• In his youth he built a motorcycle from a bushel basket full of pieces
• He has an uncanny knack for knowing his way around any city
• Every year he planned our family vacations – fun trips like exploring the national parks, riding on a train across the country, and going to a dude ranch (before the word “dude” was even fashionable) 
• He would explain a math or science concept to me by patiently drawing it out on a three-by-five card in carefully rendered capital letters 
• My dad loves to read … particularly consumer guides … and to this day, he is a fountain of meaningful information on nearly any topic
• My dad loves sailing
• My dad is an Eagle Scout

No – he doesn’t wear a neckerchief around the house, and I don’t know that I’ve ever actually seen one of his badges, but the life ethic of that experience is apparent in everything he does, and it is in this regard that I had underestimated the complexity of accurately communicating the essence of my father.

I’ve always known that being an Eagle Scout involved stuff like camping, badges, canteens and “being prepared” … what I realize now is that it’s way more than that. As I have gotten older, the Eagle Scout designation has evolved from a general, flip descriptor of earnest, geeky, goody-goddyness into a significant standard of integrity and character. 

The tradition of scouting is designed to promote service and leadership skills in young people. What I realize now is that any kid who can negotiate the trials of youth and manage to fly under the radar of trendy, flashy, in-the-moment thrills, is light-years ahead of their less focused and industrious counterparts. 

The kids who have earned the designation of Eagle Scout have mastered and demonstrated the quiet competence and capacity for diligence, honestly, loyalty, curiosity, intelligence, and strong work ethic that builds depth and character — people with the kind of character that we need to keep our country and communities strong and prosperous.

The Take-Away: My brother and I can say without reservation that we have an exemplary father who, largely by example (and a few stacks of three-by-five cards), has prepared us with the tools and blueprint to a way of living that is filled with strong values, adventure and meaning.  As my daughters go out into the world, one of my hopes for them is that they are able to develop these qualities and find their inner Eagle Scout as well.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

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