The Flipping Truth :)

Kelli wrote a blog post this week, that got me thinking...She felt judged, really judged after one of her darlings told the world (well at least the daycare and then a neighbor and a cashier and....) that Kelli flips people off....

Out of context and practically untrue...Kelli hasn't flipped anyone off in decades. She can count on two fingers the number of times a swear word has slipped her lips in that same time...

 I on the other hand cannot say the same...I haven't since Saturday...Monday...Wednesday... umm 3:00pm...

Kelli and I come by it honestly though. Dad was shall we say colorful...But that Dad who taught us the language of a well-educated sailor, was also the one who taught us to never judge anyone.

He was far from a perfect father, but he taught Kelli and I one great thing...Be who you are and let others do the same...

Dad never cared what people thought, but he never judge them either  ....

He picked us up in the Salt Lake Airport in HOT PINK hospital pants, purple converse hi tops and bright yellow glasses....

Another time accompanied by my Uncle Bob (who was dressed in impeccable business attire), Dad wore extremely short white tennis shorts, flip flops, his favorite, thread bare Jazz t-shirt and a sun visor to complete the Wimbledon look....Uncle Bob seeing our faces quipped "Real nice of you, to dress up for the occasion, Les"

Dad took us to fancy restaurants and concerts and music lectures, always in his track pants and that years Lionel Hampton or Utah State sweat shirt....

He swore all the time.... if he stubbed his toe, couldn't find his keys, got cut off on the freeway, couldn't get the tic tac package open...and his middle finger was his greatest tool of communication...

You night not believe it, but this was endearing....So much so, that we put  "the bird" on his head stone (a little sparrow in the corner, cause middle fingers are frowned upon in cemeteries, but we know what it represents)

Dad never quite found a box he fit in, but he never put others in boxes either...

He never pretended to be anything he wasn't. Les was Les and that was that.

I'm sure some judged my Dad's less that righteous behavior, but I know one thing he never had the time to judge theirs...

So dear acquaintances of Kelli, if you need a Merrill sister to judge, the one in Canada would make your hair curl. :)