First, some background on my dad. Dave Sherwood is from Clark, South Dakota, a town of 1,000 people; mostly potato farmers. My grandfather Stephan Dewitt "SD" Sherwood was the only Lawyer in the town, my grandmother Mavis Augusta (seriously, what baby is named that. Sorry Grandma) having an 8th grade education and 3 children: David, Steven and Shelly. My dad, the oldest of three, was a bit of a rebel. Long hair (don't care), lead singer of a rock band, wrestling Varsity in High School, was determined to get the hell out of Clark as soon as possible. After a couple failed attempts at the straight and narrow, dad put himself through college working nights at The Holiday Inn. He would eat off of food trays from room service to survive. After graduation, made his way down to Tucson, Az prompted from seeing a post card at the Black Hills State University gift shop. My dad and his hippie wife at the time road tripped it down to Tucson and he started working as a loan officer at Pima Savings (where he later met my mom - oh heyyyyy giirlllll). After both first marriages for my parents sizzled out, dad was waiting at the finish line to snag my mom.
3 years of dating and a golden retriever later, Dad and mom got married in Sedona, Arizona with only a pastor and a witness present. Dad wore a mustache and a light blue suit with a vest that didn't button over his little belly. Mom wore a silk puffy blouse, brown Farrah Fawcett locks and a maroon high waisted skirt. Talk about some gems.
At 33, my dad was now working as a young stock broker, married to my mom with a baby on the way when he drove himself to the hospital for having sharp chest pains. My dad had to under go open heart surgery. "The likelihood that he will live long enough to know his daughter into adulthood is slim" said the doctors and my mom prepared herself for the possibility of being a single mom. Now, providing a private school education through college for his only daughter, a house in Cobblestone, a vacation home in Pinetop (which my mom gutted and remodeled to her liking), several luxury vehicles and funding for girls chorus tours to the UK, Canada, Germany and school trips to the British Virgin Islands, Italy and Alaska... I'm sure financially, this was not what he had planned on. My dad has solely provided for my mom, me and my two grand mothers a life that was close to royalty. He's not a "man's man" in the sense that he doesn't drink, play golf (anymore due to a competitive fit that ended with the clubs in the bottom of a lake), and after having open heart surgery at 33 is not a cigar smoker. As he says "I would be a hermit if it wasn't for your mother." I call b.s. on that due to the fact that he befriends every one at the supermarket, the dry cleaners and every restuarant server/manager of my parents favorite places to eat.
Growing up, my mom did very minimal cooking. Dad would either pick up dinner or we would go out to eat so that's where my expensive taste in food and lack of cooking skills comes from. I'm not complaining, mom is great in the kitchen during holidays, but she busies herself cleaning every inch of the house... so eatting out saved her from doing dishes.
Every saturday morning, dad and I would go run errands. Dry cleaners, dad's office, grocery store, and if "I was good," Toys R Us or to see the puppies at the Humane Society. Several Nano pets, polly pockets and "little Pet Shop" toys later, I was more interested in finding us the perfect pet. Our golden retreiver Sam had been banned to the back yard due to a sheading problem that didn't fit my mom's needs for cleanliness and I was determined to "have a little dog I can hold." That's when we found "Lady." I can't tell you how utterly ridiculous it is that while I'm typing her name my eyes fill up with tears. The Sherwoods LOVED Lady. But, that didn't happen until Dad and I did some convincing. Fast forward 7 years, Lady lived in the house, howling like a coyote on the couch with Dad, propping up next to him for hours to watch football. Lady loved being rubbed as much as mom does, so they bonded over that and I had a dog that slept between my legs at night, explored the desert with me and would run alongside as I rode my bike around the neighborhood. Lady had alot of health problems. Twisted rib cage, enlarged heart, valley fever... after thousands of dollars were but into the health and maintenance of this dog my dad asked my mom "how much money are you willing to put into this dog?" My mom's dead face response "A million dollars." So, Lady was coined the Million Dog. This is one example of Dad doing whatever it takes to "keep his girls happy."
At my Cotillion, dad and I had so much fun goofing off during ball room dancing rehearsals that by the time we got to the ball, we made it up as we went along. "Don't worry Steph, your debutante dress is big enough that no one will see our feet, just follow my lead."
My dad is the one I call if I'm injured: "Dad, I don't want to alarm you but I just burnt the hell out of my hand and I'm driving myself to the emergency room." Dad is the one I call for the level-headed response post-break up, if I've needed help financially (Dad, I have a dollar to my name and I just bought a piece of gum so I may be overdrawn, please help), or if I want to tell him about a work related event that I'm proud of. My dad is THE WORST to take a guy home to because he will welcome any guy I bring to my door with open arms. This is just heartbreaking when you realize the guys you bring home don't measure up anywhere close to your dad. No boyfriend I have ever brought home has agreed to my dad's mentality of "whatever the girls want is fine by me." He wants so badly for me and my mom to be happy. I know if he could go out himself and find the guy most like him, he would. Unfortunately, like my dad, I'm stubborn, so I wouldnt give him the time of day anyways. My dad is a Virgo and I have dated FOUR Virgos since college thinking they would be like my dad. Boy, was I wrong. I have come to learn that my dad is by far the best out there, and a very special type of Virgo. Best dad, best husband, best pet owner and my biggest supporter (tied with mom of course).
Dave Sherwood is loud, highly opinionated, extremist, confident, conservative, funny, goofy, loveable and my twin. We look alike, we're both boardline lunatics with the activities we do and we're not afraid to voice our opinions on anything. We both like to take control of situations, be the center of attention and have the best story...basically you either love us or roll your eyes at us. Through and through he is my father and I can't imagine what life would be like without his nods of approvals for my outfits, his scoldings of my poor spending habits or his unlimited amount of love, patience and support. I'm so grateful to know him, have him on my team and be there for my mom everyday. If I never have a husband like him, I will know that I witnessed true love between my dad and mom and I don't know many people who can say that about their parents. He has stood by her, been there through thick and thin and treats his wife how every wife should be treated.
I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day to the best man I'll ever know.
Snuf.
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