Fathers and Sons

I am not just a dad but also a son. I have learned a lot from my dad, business , service and being a good dad. I grew up in a small seaside town of Coolum Beach on the south coast of Queensland, Australia.( I am back living in Coolum again but it's not quite as small and laid back as when I was a kid)
Our family ran the corner store and real estate agency, they called my dad "The mayor" of Coolum. I was reminded recently about the constant parade of visitors and the endless cups of tea served around the kitchen table in the back of the old shop, I am sure there were many stories told and deals done around that table. As a young boy I was more interested in playing over the road at the beach or building forts in the storeroom from empty cornflake box's than paying attention to what the grownups were doing around the table, at least untill the ginger nut biscuits or red salmon sandwiches came out.
We lived above the shop and it was 7 days (& nights) a week, pretty quiet most of the year but crazy in holiday time. As a young boy I guess that I was lucky that even though dad worked long hours, I was with him a lot more than kids whose dads worked in regular jobs.
I am also lucky that Dad (&mum)are still with us, he just turned 83 and is in pretty good health. My boys are lucky too, as thy have spent plenty of good times with him, which is something I didn't get do with both my granddads passing away before I was born.
I really value the opportunity to spend this precious time with both dad and my boy's as I know it can't last forever, but until then we'll all keep enjoying our regular afternoon tea's.