Wilbur Rife

About a decade and a half ago, AT&T reported that nearly 20 million more calls are made on Mother’s Day than on Father’s Day.  Father’s Day, however, had the distinction of being the biggest day for collect phone calls!

My own father did not like talking on the phone especially long distance.  He viewed the phone as a utility to be used sparingly.  He also talked on the phone like the line didn’t work and to be heard, one would have to speak very loudly directly into the phone—he had a booming voice and nearly negated the need for the phone anyway.  I think he could have opened the door and reached most of his targets by simply shouting in their general direction.

I can only remember talking with my father once on the telephone, long distance, and it was not collect.  Before the call was over he had reminded me three times it was long distance—the airtime was dear—and he was wanting to cut the call short, even though, I had called him!

Father’s Day is a second rate holiday and an afterthought.  The modern Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, Father’s Day, however, came two years later.

So, there you have it, Father’s Day, second to Mother’s Day, a second rate day for fathers that children feel okay with calling and sticking the bill to the old man if they think about making the call at all.

Though, the holiday is second rate, my father was a first rate father.  He passed away over 32 years ago and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t think of him.  And when I go back home, I always visit his grave.

I would gladly pay the toll for a long distance call to him if I could only talk to him again.

Frazier Cemetery, rural Harrison County, Iowa