Clyde's Top 10

10. Out of 40 roommates in my single years, my parents were the by far the best: they expected the best of me without breathing down my neck. They treated me like an adult and loved me like a child . . . not to mention no rent and a full fridge.

10a. Leaving the house for work at least twice a week to find Dad out there just finishing up a wash and detail of my car.

9. Although he was nearly always right, I don't recall any "I told you so's" when I made a poor choice.

8. He helped me fix the first mailbox I hit.

8a. He flew to Florida to help me fix the last mailbox I hit.

7. He put up with me learning to play the violin (or was that just his hearing loss?)

6. Taught me the value of a comparison list. My husband makes fun of my "Clyde Lists" I still create--a spreadsheet with all the items and details for comparison.

6a. He taught me never to take myself too seriously (didn't last year's top ten lists spawn the hairdo pics?)

5. He never (well rarely) complained about my dinner concoctions--even if there just wasn't enough meat. He'd just brown up his own hamburger and pour it on his own.

4. Always the epitome of efficiency he would send "Dad Letters" while we were away at college. "Dear Brandon/Ryan/Jennifer/Justin" and your name would be highlighted along with any portions that applied just (or mostly) to you. He even wrote a letter to my roommate telling her to stop sitting in front of the open oven and put on a sweater for heavens sake.

3. He encouraged me to follow my dreams--even when that meant a degree in theatre.

2. He is relentlessly fair-minded. When I was unmarried at 24, he offered to write out a check equivalent to the cost of a wedding if at any point I decided I was unlikely to marry, or would rather just take the cash.

1. He just wants his kids to be happy, even at his own expense or at the risk of inserting his foot in mouth. When I was wedding dress shopping, I was disappointed to learn that the dress I returned to purchase had been sold. The only other contender looked great but was ridiculously expensive. He said to me "I'll buy you the expensive dress--we just don't want you to be ugly on your wedding day."

1a. Taught me the value of saving money (sometimes by good example sometimes by bad). I still remember Dad saying to me "If I'd realized at 25 the peace of mind of having half a year's salary in savings, I'd have done it years sooner and suffered less." It is thanks to Dad's teachings that I am fairly young, out of debt, have a relatively sizable savings account for a rainy day and have a great sense of inner peace.

I love you Dad. I could go on and on, but I suppose I should save some for next year.