I talked to my father on the phone yesterday. I must remember to stick to some kind of schedule for these calls or weeks can go by without a conversation. He now relies entirely on me to initiate them. We talked for only about twenty minutes. I know where some of those idea espoused in yesterday's entry came from. Although loath to admit it for many years, I share a lot of ideas about life with my dad.He never really 'bought into' the whole unsustainable myth of consumerism that often dominates economic life in North America. He still believes in official employment simply as a means to provide for one's needs. My father never flew much but always considered continent-wide road trips as useful. "Just to see how others live, he would say. My mother died when he was a relatively young man, but he still retired at 55. He is somewhat proud that he hasn't punched a time clock in nearing a quarter century.
As I begin approaching that initial age, I love him for that. I still refuse to acknowledge that I have adopted any of his beliefs. I'd rather think I was late in noticing what a very smart man he is too.