ShareThisBy JUDIE SCHWARTZ and EVELINDA URMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
Monday, June 11, 2007
Father's Day is one of those holidays when we never know what to get our Mr. Style Matters. Frankly, they don't want anything, not a tie, shaving kit or cologne. What's wrong with them? We always want stuff. We decided to do a reality check with some dads and asked them what they want for Father's Day. Their answers might surprise you; they did us.
Mike Dino, CEO of the Denver 2008 Democratic Convention Planning Committee, said:
"I am a very blessed father with an awesome wife, Robyn, and a wonderful little boy, Mario. I live in the neighborhood I grew up in and the rest of my family is nearby. There isn't much I want for Father's Day other than my sprinkler system to work successfully through the entire summer because I am tired of repairing it. Though my neighbors may be amused watching me walk around my yard soaking wet and trying to fix the system, I'm losing my patience with the sprinklers. I'd really like to get through the summer without the lawn mower shaving off a sprinkler head so I won't lose mine."
Style Matters: Mrs. Dino, at least you can guess what Mike wants. Call a sprinkler company.
Comedian Louis Johnson, who's performed on Comedy Central, B.E.T., Showtime and A&E, doesn't ask for much:
"For Fathers Day..........I want my mother to stop coming by my house at 6:40 a.m.! I'm a professional comedian! My day doesn't start until 4p.m. And I want her to stop using religion as an excuse! 'Well...The Lord woke me up early and said I should stop by, baby. You can't argue with the Lord's will!' No...but I can disconnect my doorbell. And, I want my wife to stay as perfect as she is. (Yes guys...I'm playing this one safe! How do you think we made it to more than 20 years together?)"
Theater producer and marketing executive Dan Wiley explains: "Since I already have enough slippers and ties (and it's impossible to find the rear cowling that fits behind the seat of my '92 Honda VFR motorcycle) what I want is to be the kind of dad who lives as an example to show my two daughters that their results in life are directly proportional to what they invest in it. . . . I want them to know they cannot fail, and that every setback is just an opportunity to make different choices to get the results they want. I want them to know they're beautiful, smart, safe, strong and capable and can be, have or do anything in life... and that at any age, it's never too late to be what you might have been."
Style Matters: Amen. While these are wonderful Father's Day wishes, they ain't supporting the local retail economy. I guess it's up to us, ladies, to get out there and shop. We wish these dads and all dads a Happy Father's Day.
(Judie Schwartz and Evelinda Urman write on corporate office wear and the art of personal style. E-mail them at stylematters(at)comcast.net.)
