My dad is a pretty great guy. He wasn’t always the best dad when I was growing up, but as an adult, I am able to put so many things into perspective.

He was an absent dad, for the most part, when I was a child, but it only intensified his mystique &045; and my respect for him. I always respected my pop and wished for more interaction with him, but he set an example when he was around.

I always felt he handled things in a smart way, such as the training of a beautiful bay horse he raised from a colt. I had a romantic attachment to horses when I was little, not uncommon for little girls. Fortunately we had a number of horses over the years and so did my grandparents. One of the mares we owned foaled a little stallion we called Baron, which Dad gelded when the time was right.

As the colt grew and matured, Dad began his training. I recall he spent hours with the horse on lead, walking, trotting and cantering the horse in a circle, helping the bay accept the saddle and a person’s weight. I wish I had my pop’s incredible patience as he exhibited with that horse.

Dad broke Baron to ride using kindness, patience and an uncanny understanding of horse nature, but never broke his spirit. Dad just seems to accept horses and people despite their individual quirks.

Driving the back roads of Iowa when I was about 5 years old, I thought my dad knew everybody. You know how it goes as you’re driving along &045; it seems particularly true in Iowa &045; everyone waves. Well, it’s not really a wave, but more of a raised finger that passes for a wave.

My brother and I, safely seat-belted in the back seat, would ask &uot;Who was that, Dad?&uot;

He always offered a name, and in my innocence, I thought he knew everybody in the whole wide world. I found out a couple years ago that he made up most of the names, but he didn’t settle for Fred Jones or Ollie Smith &045; we’d surely have caught on to his tricks if he had. I remember feeling great adoration for my pop back then.

For a period of time, my dad and brother worked together. My brother’s work habits as a young man left much to be desired, but to my knowledge, Dad never criticized him. Rather, he waited until 10 o’clock in the morning, called him, then went to pick him up, if that was required. Sometimes Dad needed my brother’s help right away in the morning so he’d call before leaving his house and pick my brother up on the way to the job.

I asked Dad why he didn’t holler at my brother for his &uot;lazy&uot; ways. Dad’s response was something to the effect that he’d come around, eventually. See, Dad’s example said more than his words did. I’ve always tried to offer the same to my kids, but as a parent now, I know how much self-control it takes to let them become their own people without inflicting my own opinions and insecurities. My pop made it appear effortless to be accepting and non-judgmental. (My brother has a fine work ethic now and probably has my dad’s example to thank.)

About a year ago, I was visiting Dad on picturesque Cape Cod where he lives; I try to get out there every year or two. At 60-plus years, he is still spry, but accepts help with projects more frequently

and moves a little slower to complete them.

He was installing a ceiling fan/light in the kitchen and the little kid in me tugged at his shirttails to help, which he gratefully (I think) accepted.

Later as we were standing admiring our handiwork, I verbalized a wish that Dad had passed on his knowledge &045; he’s a jack-of-all-trades which I have long admired &045; through genetics to me.

Apparently feeling guilty about his lack of involvement when I was small, he apologized with tears in his eyes &045; he’s also an incredible softy &045; for his shortcomings as a father, mistakenly thinking I was criticizing him.

On the contrary, I told him. I would much rather have the positive relationship we enjoy now. I have a much more meaningful perception of him today than I ever did in my youth, and the love and admiration I hold in my heart now is based on him as an entire person &045; flaws and all. My dad is more special to me at this age and I wouldn’t trade the past for less of a relationship today.

This Father’s Day salute goes out to all

fathers who have made a few mistakes but who are still pretty great guys.