As I was preparing for my talk today, I realized that many
of you here may not have ever known my dad, or maybe only met him in the recent
years, where he really couldn’t communicate well. That being said, I’d like to share with all
of you a little bit about who he was, as well as some of my favorite memories.
I first met Jon Oliver Bolstad back in June of 1975. We got
off to a little bit of a rough start, because I showed up a month earlier than
was planned, which resulted in a lot of concern and worry on his part. That
wouldn’t be the last time that “one of his favorite daughters” as he used to
say, would cause him worry, but we went on to have what was MOSTLY a great
relationship. You know, other than in those teenage years where he was trying
to ruin my life.
There is so much of my dad in me and so much that I think of
each and every day that he gave to me. There are of course, the physical traits
(my legs and feet are ALL him and I’m super smart like he was), there are the
personality traits (Thankfully I’m not as stubborn as he was. I’m not. No
really, I’m not.), but also some valuable skills. He taught me how to trim branches on a tree,
pack a car for a road trip with extreme efficiency, to love and appreciate the
outdoors and how to be a MASTER at the art of procrastination. I remember him
staying up all night writing proposals the day before they were due. Guess when
I wrote my talk?
In addition to these things, my dad also taught me some
valuable life lessons.
Life Lesson #1: To be wise with money. Now while we were
growing up, this was SUPER annoying. We drove around town to find the best
deals, we shopped at thrift stores…for clothes….in Jr High and High School, we
clipped coupons and it was all because he didn’t want to spend a penny more
than was necessary. Now…do I think that maybe, just maybe, I deserved more than
ONE Esprit sweatshirt in 7th grade? Yes. But…we lived a very simple
life, although we didn’t have to. And, being smart with money has been
ENGRAINED in my mind and I will be forever grateful that he taught me to live a
simple life. Not to go without, but to be conscious of the money that I spend
and appreciate the things that I have.
Life Lesson #2: Nothing comes easy in life…you have to work
for it. My dad was a hard worker and he had high expectations for us. But those
expectations helped me to always strive to do my best. I am SO grateful that he
paid for my college tuition, but it was a scholarship program….not a gift. There
were many lessons that he made me learn the hard way, but what an example he
was of how hard work and determination pay off.
Life Lesson #3: Love isn’t only shown in the words you say,
but in the things you do. Not until
within the last year did I hear my dad speak the words “I love you.” That’s
probably pretty shocking to most of you, considering it’s pretty obvious how
much I love my dad. The thing is, I never doubted whether or not he did because
he showed it in so many other ways. He was big on hugs…. His parents never
hugged him as a child and I think he gave us all of the hugs that he never got.
Just like him, I think I say “I love you” to Hailee enough to make up for the
ones I didn’t hear.
Life Lesson #4: If
you’re unhappy with your current situation, then do something about it. He left
a good paying job to start his own company. He didn’t pay himself for over a
year (see Life Lesson #1), but he knew that nothing was going to change unless
he changed the situation. In an article that was written about him in the Post
Register, when asked why he started the company, he said “I was tired of
working for other people. And I want to do something that I would be proud of
when I’m 81.” It breaks my heart that he didn’t make it to 81, but I know that
he lived a life that he can be proud of and I certainly know that I’m proud of
the legacy that he has left behind.
Thank you, Daddy, for the lessons that you taught me and for
being such a fighter. Thank you for taking Heidi and I camping, just the three
of us and creating my favorite childhood memory. I will never forget when you
dropped that hamburger on the floor of the VW camper, brushed it off and threw
it back in the pan. Thank you for
letting me take typing class in High School, even though you thought it was a
waste of time. It’s certainly served me well and I have to admit I’m happy that
I don’t have to hunt and peck like you did. Thank you for the phone conversations that got
me through some really hard times. Thank you for not killing me like I thought
you would when I totaled Grandma’s pickup. Thank you for all of the advice on
the thousands of decisions I came to you with. I think I’ve finally learned how
to make the some simple ones on my own, but will continue to look to you for guidance.
Thank you for noticing that I did, in fact, pick at my chicken pock and tell
you that I didn’t. Had it not been for that, I would have never heard you say
“You’ll go to jail for lying some day.”
And thank you for trying your hardest to stick around until
Robie Race Day and for the bond that we shared at the very end because of it. I
missed you like crazy that day, but also found peace in knowing that you had
the best view possible and that you most definitely said “Good Kari” at the
end, as you always did when I’d made you proud. I love you, Daddy.
Happy Father's Day, Daddy. I know you had a good day...