April 29th, 2009 | 
Author: As I walked in the door, 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 gifts for dad on Father’s Day when I was a small child. We ordered it so carefully making sure it was just the right size and shape, and would say just the right sentiment; after all, personalized gifts are not returnable! But the moment we had waited for finally came and Dad opened it and he seemed so surprised and happy with his mirrored gift. He even placed it at the door of the home we had on the lake.
I had no idea how important this piece would become over time. Every weekend we’d go there and fish, or swim, and had a great time. I don’t ever remember being bored, even though we didn’t have a television or computer there. Dad would play card games with us kids or tell us stories without ever having to look at a book. And then Sunday would come and were forced to leave the cabin. We would gather our caps and jackets off the hooks of that etched mirror and head to our weekday lives. Thinking of the times we would have together when we next would gather at the cabin.
No matter what happens in life, no matter how bad a situation I’ve found myself in, 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. Intriguing how that one childhood gift can evoke such strong memories. I never would have dreamed that this gift idea for dad would span generations, and be remembered fondly by the whole family.
So many years have passed since that time and I now am looking at the old man in the custom etched mirror. He seems so similar to my dad! And then the memories come flooding back of the time I 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 certainly not time spent in vain. It was time spent learning, laughing, and enjoying the person he was. I can only hope that when my boys grow up they will look into this personalized, custom etched mirror that used to be their grandpa’s, and remember the times they spent with their dad with such splendor. This mirror that is a reflection of much simpler times. Could there be any better gift than one that will build memories of Dad?
