My Daddy has been on my mind more than usual over the past few days.  Maybe it’s the change in weather, my daughter’s new affinity for the Y2K Country station on XM, or because there is so much I want to tell him.  Whatever the cause, everything seems to be reminding me of him these days.

On Monday, one of my Bridges Classical Community students asked me about the Cold War, which was one of our Timeline pegs.  “Was it really cold when they fought the Cold War?” he asked.

I smiled and answered, “No, no.  It wasn’t actually cold.  The Cold War was a very scary time for everyone, but the crazy thing was that no one actually physically fought each other.  That’s why it’s called the ‘Cold War,’ because no one fought in the way we think of wars.  It was a time when countries were building up their nuclear weapons and making lots of threats to other countries about setting off their weapons.  Over time, the weapons got bigger and had more capabilities of reaching other countries, so it made people very scared that they were in danger.  Countries fought by arguing with each other.  These threats went on for a long time after World War II, around 40 years!”

I continued for another few minutes passionately sharing about this uncertain time in American history.  And at the end, I grinned and asked, “Did that answer your question?”

My student smiled a little and nodded his head.  I knew it was probably a bigger explanation that he was expecting, but I really do love history and am always excited for an opportunity to learn more or share the tidbits my brain holds on to.

It wasn’t until I was driving home and silently reviewing the day in my mind that the epiphany hit me.  “Oh my gosh,” I thought to myself, “I am my Dad.”  And I chuckled at the thought.  I can’t tell you how many times I asked him about something that I thought required a simple answer, and instead received a 30 minute dissertation.  Especially if it was a question about American history, there was no such thing as a speedy and concise response.  His eyes literally lit up as he shared his passions.

In that moment while I was driving, I realized that I had done exactly the same thing earlier that day.  My eyes welled up and a bittersweet smile filled my face.  Sometimes you don’t appreciate how similar you are to someone until you don’t have them anymore.  But my Daddy really is with me wherever I go because he left his legacy in me.  I am my Dad.