Happy Birthday to my dad, brilliant scientist, crime solver extraordinaire, pillar of the church choir bass section, and the greatest dad in the whole world.

My sister and I always say we’re going to write a book of John’s Pearl’s of Wisdom… but until we get around to writing it all down, in honor of my dad’s birthday today:

• Turn off the lights when you leave the room. I can still hear him ranting saying, “I just went upstairs and turned off four lights, two ceiling fans, one jam box, and one curling iron! It costs me a quarter every time you turn the curling iron on!” So for Pete’s sake, turn off your lights and your curling iron. Save your dad a quarter.

 

• Get your oil changed every 3,000 miles. Buy your cars used, and drive them til the wheels fall off… but get your oil changed. That 1980 brown Ford truck my dad drove while I was in high school mortified me to no end then… and my daughters will probably feel the same way about my 2005 Honda Accord when I’m still driving it when they’re in high school. What can I say? I’m my dad’s daughter and I learned the lesson of the used car/oil change well. 

And last but not least, my favorite advice I ever got from my dad…

• You can marry more money in five minutes than you can make in five lifetimes. I never learned this lesson, but it’s ok… You CAN live happily ever after without the trust fund, I’ve learned. But if it’s not too late for you, and you’re contemplating marrying someone of lesser means… just know that my dad told you so. 

Thanks, dad, for all this wisdom and so much more. I couldn’t have made it without you. 

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