5 Things I Learned From My Dad

Father's Day is upon us, and it's a chance to celebrate the person who, for many of us, is the most important man in our lives'- our father. Those of us who were lucky enough to have a father around most of the time can probably share a lot of stories, jokes,  wisdom, that our dad's have passed onto us. These are just 5 things that I learned from mine.

#5- Instead Of Getting Married, Find a Girl You Hate and Buy Her  A House

Admittedly, this little piece of advice happened in the midst of my father's divorce from my mother, when both were extremely bitter. Also, my dad didn't actually mean this when he said it, he jokes around about  uncomfortable issues (now I know where I got it from), but for some reason this has always stuck with me.  It makes sense even more today than it did ten years ago, as the divorce rate is still sky-rocketing and pre-nuptial agreements are the bane of existence for thousands of men. It does seem like a better idea to just find a girl you hate and buy her a house, as you'll probably end up doing it anyway, and at least this time you won't waste 5-10 years of your life.

#4- A Dollar Saved is a Dollar Earned

I never really understood this phrase- I still don't. But I think I get it more now than I did as a child. As I'm transitioning into 'manhood'(more on that later), I'm learning how important it is to save money.  I mean, not that I actually, um, do that. But I really feel like I'm about to. Taking into account my job as a writer/photographer/web-contributor for a bunch of radio stations, and the pay check that goes along with that, I estimate that if I save $5 from every check, I should have saved $1,000 by the year 2026. Yeah, baby! 2026 Nick is gonna be rich!!!

#3- Age Has No Bearing On Manhood

A lot of people think that when you turn 18, you become a man. This is why you're legally able to smoke, buy porn, and join the army. I never really understood this. When I was 18, I was a tool. I was immature, ignorant and emotionally unstable- much like I still am today. I was most certainly not a man when I was 18. I'm still not quite there yet, but I'd like to think I'm on my way. This proves that age has no bearing on manhood. I'm 24 years old and still not the man that I should and will be, but I'm getting there, and I hope that when I do get there, as the song goes, I'll be half the man that my dad is.

#2- Money Doesn't Grow On Trees

But it'd be cool if it did right? When I was a kid, basically anything I wanted, within reason, I got. This is due to a manipulative mother and giving father. If I wanted to go to a movie, go to dinner, get a new Batman toy, I would ask and, more often than not, receive. It was a good life. Then something happened- I grew up. I started to work. And it got to the point where the only money I had, was the money that I earned. Suddenly, and by suddenly I mean it's a very slow process, I had to start to understand the value of a dollar. I had bills to pay, I had to buy groceries, I had wrestling ppv's to order. This was all a matter of risk/reward and I had to decide whether or not to pay my phone bill, or buy a new Batman toy. Sometimes, I still opt for the Batman toy.

#1- The Most Valuable Thing A Man Has Is His Name

My great-great grandfather was the Sheriff of this town in it's early years. Sheriff W.E.  Tubbs built a name for himself as a man to respect and admire. This was passed down to my grandfather, Warren Perkins, and to my dad, Tom. Whenever my dad comes across someone that knew my grandpa, they all have nothing but the nicest things to say about him. My grandfather was a man that to know him was to love him and respect him. My dad is the same way. Both my father and grandfather lived in Casper for most of their lives, and it is because of this that they have built up a strong name. Perkins is a name that people admire and respect, because of my father and his father before him. I only hope that, despite the DUI, the half-truths,  the jilted ex-lovers, the husbands of some of those jilted ex-lovers, and a plethora of other things, I will continue to build up the Perkins name. My family has worked hard to add value to that name, and I will do my best to live up to it's reputation. It's the least I can do for the man that I'm lucky enough to call my father.