As I enter into our home, I hang my coat on the coat hook and look into the mirror like I have a million times before and remember back to the time when we bought this custom etched mirrored coat rack as one of the gift ideas for dad on Father’s Day when I was a small child. We ordered it so carefully making sure it was perfect, and would say just the right sentiment; after all, unique personalized gifts are not returnable! But the big day came and Dad opened it and he seemed so surprised and happy with his mirrored gift. He even placed it where all could see as they entered the cabin we had on the lake.

I didn’t occur to me how important this piece would become over time. Every weekend we’d go there and fish, or swim, and enjoyed ourselves each time. I can’t seem to remember a boring moment, even though we didn’t have a television or computer there. Dad would play card games with us kids or tell us stories from his imagination. And then Sunday would come and were forced to leave the cabin. We would remove our things from the hooks of that etched mirror and head to our weekday lives. Dreaming of our time together again the next weekend we’d spend at the cabin.

No matter what happens in life, no matter how rough the road has gotten, I could always go back to a time at the lake where dad in his infinite wisdom would tell a story or impart some wisdom that would make me see my bad situation in a better light. Interesting that a small gift can evoke such strong memories. I never would have dreamed that this gift idea for dad would span generations, and be so important to such a large group of people.

It has been such a long time since we gave this gift that now as I am looking at the old man in the custom etched mirror. He bears a remarkable similarity to my dad! And then I remember all those years ago spent with dear old dad at the cabin. The fun times that we had planning and all the time that was spent with each other was not the important thing instead it was the investment in each others lives. Time spent with dad was not ever a waist. It was time spent learning, laughing, and appreciating everything that made him who he was. I can only hope that when my boys grow up they will look into this personalized, custom etched mirror that at one time was a gift for their grandfather, and remember the times they spent with their dad with such splendor. This mirror that is a reflection of much simpler times. What better gift than one that will build memories of Dad?

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