Thursday, August 2, 2012

My Dad


My dad the christmas Weirdo!!!
The other day I was assisting a family with graveside services for their father. As they took to the microphone to tell some stories and remember their father, it made me think of the man I call dad. 
His name is Wayne Douglas Dunbar. He was born in the latter half of the 20th Century! He is Canadian born to American parents. I don't know if it is the Canadian in him but he is one of the funniest people I know. 
If you know him well you will know that he can make anyone laugh. Being a Nursing home administrator he can come off as stuffy and serious. But as you get to know him you find out that that is just a shell. He does some of the weirdest things.  For instance, one of our favorite stupid human things dad is requested to do at functions and family gatherings is his fly impression. Not like flying, but like the fly that flies around your head. Next time you find yourself at a place where something like this is appropriate ask him about it. You may need to ask him in front of mom so that she can help persuade him to do it. It is quite good and quite hilarious. 

I don't know anyone who doesn't like my dad! He is a very likable person. It is so great to know that when I run into someone who knows him that it will always be a good impression that they have had of him. I visited one of our homes from back in our Hurricane, Utah days. I visited with one of the ladies who worked with him while he as there! She listed him as one of her top three Administrators from the 25 years she has worked there. That is saying a lot. That place goes through administrators like my dad's V10 goes through gas!!! (that is a lot)

One of the greatest things about my dad that I learned through this past two years is how unconditional love truly works. When I came out to my parents they took it fairly well. I mean I think I took it harder because I feared for the worst. My dad was not pleased with the decision I made to live my life as a gay man. But since that day he has never made me feel less loved, cared about, or neglected. We have never been incredibly close. I mean I was never the athletic type or anything like that. But I have always known that he loved me and that he was going to do all that he could to provide for me. 

And lastly, growing up we never went without the necessities! That is saying a lot I think. We never had the newest or besets of anything. But as children we never had to worry about not having food, not having a roof over our heads. We always had adequate clothing. I am sure he stressed it a lot but he never made us fear for those things. 

There are so many stories and so many memories of my incredible Dad. I feel very fortunate to have a father with such high caliber of character and love!!! If you haven't had the pleasure of getting to know him, take the chance, you won't regret it. 

Thank you Dad for always being entertaining and loving!!! 

Love your Favorite Middle Child
Braden