The One who built the cradle: A toast to Father's Day

This Friday is the weekend of an American tradition: Father's Day.  Tonight we will toast to Fatherhood.  So, I've been thinking...

If the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,  then what do we say about the one who built the cradle?  

A father's influence is more like the cradle we rest in. It surrounds us on every side and it's nearly impossible to ignore.  It's an important part of our foundation as a person, beyond basic biology. I am sure it is more than just the cultural ritual of carrying their last name. Case in point - Luke Skywalker.  You know the story. This really courageous and upstanding young man finds out a villian is his dad, "Luke, I am your father...". Before you know the rest of the story, you think he really must have had a great mother to turn out so good with genetics like that. But we learn that Darth Vadar was a lot like Luke in his younger days.  Rather than turn from the facts, he learns from the wise around him (Yoda) to take that great parts of his inherited character and avoid Anniken's mistakes.  Thats what good dads do. They teach us how to avoid life's pitfalls - the one's they know so well from experience. What we may think is just them being tough on us is really them seeing themselves in us.  Where our Mom's will rush in to save us, Dad let's us stumble and even fall.  The kid's gotta learn.  They are there but not an overwhelming presence.  They build the cradle, but they don't have to rock it... 

So tonight, we are toasting with a concoction called, "A Big Warm Hug for Dad".  Here's to our Dads - those present, those passed, those absent and those who are always there to give us just what we need.  You helped to make us who we are, and we are now responsible to make US even better.  CHEERS FRIENDS!!

Recipe for Joy's 'A Big Warm Hug for Dad'

1 1/2 oz. Barcardi 151
1/2 oz. Cointreau Orange Liquor
1/2 oz. DiSarrono 
1 1/2 oz. Tito's Handmade Vodka
2 oz La Croix Orange Soda
Splash of Mountain Dew

Fill glass with crushed ice.  Pour each ingredient in one at a time.  Do not stir, just let it mix together naturally.