April Jeppson: Celebrating 75 years of my dad on Earth
Published 8:45 pm Friday, October 18, 2024
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Every Little Thing by April Jeppson
My dad turned 75 this week, and as I sit down to reflect on that, I鈥檓 filled with a mix of awe, gratitude and a whole lot of love. Seventy-five years is a big number. I remember thinking he was old when he turned 50! But here we are, celebrating three-quarters of a century, and the man is still busier than most people I know. It feels like the kind of milestone that deserves a pause, a moment to appreciate not just the years, but the life lived within them.
Growing up, my dad was always there. And I don鈥檛 just mean physically, though that was true, too. He was present. He worked hard and was always helping out a friend or neighbor with a project. Even though he was busy, I never felt like I was missing out on him. Whether it was a school concert, helping me with memorizing my multiplication tables or trying to improve my softball game, he showed up. He always made me feel like I was a priority, even to this day.
But what really sets my dad apart is his integrity. He鈥檚 the kind of person who does the right thing because it鈥檚 the right thing 鈥 not because anyone鈥檚 watching. He lives his life with a quiet honesty that I鈥檝e always admired. Growing up, I don鈥檛 remember him ever needing to preach about what it means to be a good person. He just modeled it. He showed me, day after day, what it means to be trustworthy, reliable and true to your word. And that lesson has stuck with me more than any lecture could have.
This leads me to his kindness. My dad has this way of making everyone feel welcome, like they matter. It doesn鈥檛 matter if you鈥檙e family, a friend or someone he just met 鈥 he treats you with the same genuine care and concern. Time and time again I witnessed him get off the phone with someone and change his plans so he could help them. Maybe they had a shed they were trying to build, or a basement that flooded. It didn鈥檛 matter, if someone called my dad and asked for help, he helped them. Often that 鈥渉elp鈥 was just being a patient listener when someone needed to talk. He鈥檚 the kind of guy who gives without expecting anything in return, and I think that鈥檚 one of his greatest strengths.
As I look at him now, at 75, I鈥檓 struck by how he鈥檚 handled everything life has thrown his way. Change, challenges, losses 鈥 he鈥檚 faced them all with a resilience that鈥檚 nothing short of inspiring.
Through it all, he鈥檚 remained the same steady, strong and incredibly funny presence in my life. And as much as I鈥檝e grown and changed over the years, I find myself still turning to him for help or advice.
So here we are, celebrating 75 years of my dad. And as much as this day is about him, it鈥檚 also a chance for me to reflect on how lucky I am to have him in my life. He鈥檚 lived through decades of changes and challenges, and somehow managed to come out the other side wiser 鈥 and funnier, if you ask him. He鈥檚 been the foundation for so much of who I am today, and I鈥檓 so grateful for the love and guidance he鈥檚 given me over the years. I couldn鈥檛 ask for a better role model, a better adviser or a better dad.
So here鈥檚 to you, Dad, as you hit 75. You鈥檝e been the rock, the handyman, the life coach and occasionally the guy who makes dad jokes so bad that they鈥檙e actually good.
黄瓜视频n April Jeppson is a wife, mom, coach and encourager of dreams. Her column appears every Saturday.