It was a June Sunday many, many years ago. Perfect suburban Chicago weather, sunny, warm, green backyard grass, windows open. Mom and my sisters and I had gotten home from church earlier than my dad, who was counting money from the morning's services before running it to the Des Plaines bank and then coming home to a Sunday dinner and a ballgame on TV.
But his kids and wife had other plans. Father's Day plans! We (meaning:Mom) had gotten him a hammock from Sears for the backyard patio. I'm not sure Dad ever wanted a hammock but he was getting one today. We had to assemble the metal frame then string the canvas between the ends. Green canvas with white rope-y dangles along the side edges. We wanted to have it set up for him so that when he came home, he could go out and enjoy it while Father's Day dinner was prepared. The old man wouldn't have to lift a finger. It was His Day, after all. He earned it.
So we were excited to show it off to him. Mom had his card ready and was pleased that she was going to pull this off. He had no idea! It was going to be a total surprise!
We were in the kitchen when we heard him pull his Buick into the garage. We knew the routine so we had the timing down. He came into the kitchen through the garage door and saw his family standing there waiting for him. His wife and four kids, all smiles. All laughing! He was genuinely surprised! He got him! We got the Old Man! Happy Father's Day, Dad! Come on out here. Look! Out on the patio! We put it together just for you! Here's your card. Open it!
He opened the card. He looked out the door and saw his new hammock. The perfect summer afternoon. Just waiting for him. He saw his wife, beaming. His goofy kids giggling.
And then he looked at us and with a smile of his own said, "Father's Day? Today isn't Father's Day. Today's Flag Day. June 14th. Next week is Father's Day!"
And we froze before making a beeline to the calendar on the wall next to the phone.
June 14.
Sunday.
Flag Day.
June 21.
Sunday.
Father's Day.
And he just shook his head at the screwball family, stunningly celebrating Father's Day a week early.
We surprised him all right. Surprised him that we would mess up His Day!
But he did enjoy the hammock. The green backyard grass. The perfect summer weather. The Sunday dinner. The ballgame. And his goofy family.
