Who's yer daddy?

This post has nothing to do with either Japan, Buddhism, Budô or Bad Poetry. I think. But it's my dad's birthday and I wanted to continue a bit on the speech we kids gave last saturday, so here you go, dad. :)

First of all, I'm damn proud that you (and your friends) still out-party me on your 50th birthday. It certainly helps to dispell all kinds of fears about getting older meaning the same as getting boring. Oh no. If my 50th birthday will be as much fun as yours was, I can be sure I haven't made too many big mistakes in my life. And I dare you to out-party me on that occasion... ;)

The theme for our speech on saturday was "things that my dad has taught me" (my idea, may I add), and here's some things that I didn't have the time to say then. And ok, let's be honest, things that I didn't remember on the spot since I had kind of thought about the speech but the said late night out and a workday prevented me from writing down. And I know you wouldn't have wanted me to skip a fun night out with my friends JUST to write a bday speech for you, so... (excuse accepted?)

Music. This popped into my head when Akademiska Sångföreningen was singing, and instantly I had a "WHY didn't you say anything about that you dolt!" -moment. How could I miss the music? One of the best memories I have from Tampere doesn't have anything to do with the amusement park, but music. It's when we sat almost the whole night through with you and Bona on the veranda listening to Demis Roussos. Remember? (and by the way, if you're looking for the double-cd we were listening it's in my room - I had to copy it on my iPod) Not to mention all the times at Natsa, when me and my sis were running all over the place when we were a bit younger than now... Or the 1st May concert in Kaisaniemi (that I should also copy on my iPod). Actually, there's quite many things I should copy on my iPod (it's getting already getting a reputation in some circles, my iPod... I think I need to buy a bigger one next time I'm in Japan). You've introduced me to Misa Criolla, Carola, Latino music and the Beatles. Probably to singing in choirs and without them, and I remember you tried to teach me how to play the guitar (and it's not your fault that I never had the patience to really learn it). So, thank you for the music, as they say.

Debating. Fanny already brought this up, but I have to say something about it too. Twisting words is fun. And twisting words as a part of normal dinner conversations, throwing arguments and carrying the thing on has helped me enormously with debating in classroom. Mainly it's learning the "don't take it too seriously" -attitude, that makes debating so much easier. You won't die on the spot if your argument is twisted around and made to mean something completely different, you only need to find a counter-twist and shout louder than your debating partner. Throwing small objects helps also. Or was it that you should restrain from the throwing part..? I forget. But anyways, verbal sparring and the fun of it is definitely something you've taught us all.

The only rule (ok, the main rule) in our house has always been "everyone has the right to be home. Anytime." This has meant basically that having house parties is ok, but no one has the right to drive the rest of the family away. It's always been ok to restrict areas of the house, usually the living room and/or the downstairs area, but in many many parties the parents have been home, at least for part of the time. Indeed, I think my parents have had wilder parties at the house that neither I or my sis have arranged or ever will. There's a kind of relaxed atmosphere. We can come or go pretty much as we want to, if mom is notified about whether we will be back for night/will be home eating/how many people we want to bring to dinner she (and thus everyone) will be happier, but ever since growing reasonably old the rules have never been too strict. The fact that I don't find it objectionable to live with my parents even though I'm already 25 certainly should prove this. Home is a place we're always welcome to. No matter what the condition or the time of returning. No preaching, no bad looks, no judgements. I've never felt that I couldn't come home. And just for the record, although you should know this already but let's just voice it out this once and for all, I've never felt anything but a full member of the family (I tend to forget stupid things like adoptions and such...).

I know there's more, but it eludes me at the moment and I want to get this out while it's still your bday, so... You're always there when I need you, be it about fun and games or putting up my own business. You're always getting new ideas, a DIY-man to the end and even though it might mean that our house is always in various states of renovation it also gives us all an example of "damn if I let this thing beat me, now where's my hammer..." You've shown that it's never too late to buy a motorcycle, never too late to find your dream job, and that it's ok if that dream job seems to change from time to time - what's important is that you follow the dream. You encourage us, protect us (without smothering us), and we know you'd be there to save our asses if need be (but only after trying to get us to figure our way out of the trouble by ourselves). You've been there and done that.

So yep, yer me daddy. Happy Birthday!