Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you.

Deuteronomy 5:16

He continues to be the most consistent, giving, and sacrificial person I know. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow – what you see is what you get. He gives graciously to those he calls his own. His time, talk, and talents are valuable resources to our family. While my mom may be wheelchair bound (due to her M.S.) that does not stop my dad from exercising her legs daily as her Personal Trainer, never taking a sick/vacation day.

Providing 100% care for his lovely wife of 47 years, he is dedicated. Thankfully, he cares for himself, too. Dad works out at the Gym, faithfully 3 times a week…every week…for the last 55 years! This is not an embellished truth… Growing up we all knew that if an event fell on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday night, it would have to be a major one if Dad were to be in attendance. Those were his gym nights: 7pm-10pm. It was the one area of his life he gave to himself and we all understood and supported the importance in keeping that time sacred. My mom was only half kidding when she said, “I’m lucky your sister was born on a Thursday.”

I always appreciated the fact that I had a dad that went to the gym. But what made him really cool is that he worked out at the Hollywood YMCA. In my young mind, this practically made him famous. Why Hollywood? Well, that’s the gym that was near his apartment when he became a member back in his 20’s. His friends were there, he liked it there, so he stayed there. After a while, they stopped charging him a membership fee and gave him a sleeveless shirt that read “Instructor”. I know, seriously, the coolest dad ever!

To this very day, he still works out at this iconic location about 30 minutes from our house.
About 2 years ago, my son, Ryan, and I were driving home from a commercial audition in such city. Ryan said, “Hey, it’s Friday, let’s skip the traffic and go visit Papa at the gym.”
Oh my! In all my life, I never once thought about actually going there.
But, then again, never did I think I would move back under my parents roof with my 2 teenaged sons, but here I am. And if Dad could survive that shock with such grace and understanding, he most likely would come through with flying colors on this one too.

The young guy behind the Sign-in Desk had never heard of Al Preston. Both Ryan and I stood motionless, wondering if we were somehow in the wrong place. The complete shock on our faces must have shook this new employee, for he encouraged us to walk around freely to look for him. Ryan instinctively led the way, meandering through staircases and hallways, until we arrived in what looked to be the Holy of Holies (aka the Weight Room). I took a deep breath and prayed that my dad wouldn’t have a heart-attack once seeing us here on his sacred ground.

And just when we all thought Papa couldn’t get much cooler… Last week, he came home from Big 5 with skater-sneakers! When I saw them sitting in the living room, I was irritated as I wondered which one of my boys left for the weekend and didn’t put his shoes away.

Well Dad, one things for certain…nobody could fill those shoes like you do. We love you from the top of your beautiful bald head to the tip of your cool toes!

UPDATE:

Nine months after posting this, my Dad passed away suddenly. (See Lullaby post) I am so grateful that I wrote this and shared my heart with him before that privilege was taken from me. Don’t let time pass before telling those you love, how much they mean to you. Tomorrow isn’t promised… make the most of your today’s.