140th Edition
Socks for Christmas?
I knew as soon as I read the title of a recent article in the Wall Street Journal that I would have to respond. The article was “Give Your Father Socks for Christmas,” by William Luther. I am a sock person and always have been. More on that later…
In his article, Mr. Luther states, “A well-chosen pair of socks isn’t a thoughtless gift. It is a small but meaningful act of service. It is, in a modest and practical way, an expression of the biblical injunction to honor one’s parents—not by grand gestures, but by assuming a few of the small responsibilities they habitually postpone.” Interesting point, and I agree with him. But what are a well-chosen pair of socks? Luther doesn’t offer any advice other than to buy whatever socks you bought your dad last year. We can do better.
Since I was raised in the cold belt of Upstate New York, sock knowledge was imperative. Wearing the wrong socks at the wrong time could have been disastrous. I bought most of my socks at the West Canada Sport Shop in Middleville, N.Y. Thick wool socks that came in multiple shades of gray, with one or two red stripes at the top were always my choice. Thick and cushiony, these socks kept your feet toasty warm in almost any weather. They were so comfortable, I wore them almost all the time, no matter what season or activity I was engaged in. Woolies, as we called them, were perfect for all sports, in summer or winter, both of which we often experienced in the same month.
Today, socks come in all sorts of fabrics and colors. Stick with gray woolies, you won’t be disappointed.
As it pertains to Christmas, Mr. Luther is definitely on to something. Buy your dad a practical gift. Don’t focus on fashion, focus on functionality. Most dads still wear sweatshirts that are decades old. Most of mine are older than my kids. Sweaters, jeans, woolies and even t-shirts from decades ago make up most of my daily wardrobe. There are meaningful memories wrapped up in these tattered garments. My favorite sweatshirt, with frayed cuffs and worn-out elbows, contains joyful memories of Thanksgiving football games in the snow and fishing from the dock on a cold, windy morning. No dad will ever discard his favorite golf sweater. The one he wore when he first broke 80. Or the one he wore when he caddied for his son when he first broke 80.
There are even timeless memories in outdoor tools like rakes and snow shovels. Don’t you dare buy your dad a blower of any kind. Get him a rake or snow shovel instead. Every dad, at least from my neck of the woods, has a memory of raking the entire yard or shoveling the endlessly long driveway for the very first time. Most likely under the watchful eye of their father, this rite of manhood will be long remembered. A good quality rake or snow shovel will last a long time. Buy your dad one of those. Do some research, buy the best one you can find.
What not to buy… Don’t buy your dad golf balls. They won’t last. Buy him a golf hat instead, but don’t be offended if he still wears his oldest one the next time he plays. The older the hat gets the more comfortable it becomes. I have no idea why.
Another good idea… Buy your dad a book for Christmas. Better still, create your own book with photographs of things you did together with personal sentiments included. My daughter did that for me one Christmas from a hiking trip we went on together to climb the tallest peak in Colorado. It was the perfect Christmas present that year.
At Christmas, all a dad wants to know is that you love him and that he was a good dad. Remind him of the fact that he was there when you needed him most. Be grateful that he forgave you for your mistakes, and laughed as much as you did, at his own mistakes. Acknowledge that he stood for something important that helped you forge your own core values. Above all, tell him that you’re proud of him, and I pray that you will receive one of life’s most precious gifts when your dad says, “I’m proud of you, too.”
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Michael Kayes
*These views are my personal opinions and are not the viewpoints of any company or organization.