Man on the Street by Greg Kristapovich
“Why is YOUR dad special?”
(Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21st)
(asked in East Sonora)
“I think my dad is special because, for one, he takes us on a lot of special trips. He takes us to different places all over California. He took us to Universal Studios. We went on this ride that got me really wet – SOAKED! It was called Jurassic Park! That was kinda fun! And my dad makes lots of videos and he has some of us. He’s also taken me to a Lakers’ game! That was really fun! They’re my favorite basketball team! He helps me do a better job in school and he encourages me. And once, we ran a 5K together! And he spends a lot of time with me and my two brothers, Shane and Bryan. Dad’s really nice.” – Andrew McGuffin, Paso Robles, (6th grade student)
“My dad is special because of the way that he treats me. He treats me right and he doesn’t do anything that I think is wrong. He likes playing sports with me and he’s really good at being a good dad! And he’s really special because he just loves how he does his work. He’s good at his work and he loves his work. And he’s really great, ‘cause he’s kinda like the boss there; so he’s really great bossing people around at his job.” – Keeley Niday, Willow Springs, (4th grade student)
“My father is 79, and he’s special because no one else could fill his shoes. No one else is he; and he is no one else! He was always home. He was always consistent and loyal. We lived in the D.C. area and we would go to the Smithsonian regularly – until I could navigate it blind! We would go into the Appalachians and pick blackberries. He would take me on expeditions with a handbook of fungi, we would identify mushrooms, one after the other, and come home with delicious ones! I had a burgeoning interest in nature and at the age of 5, I received a microscope; at 6, I had my first telescope! Ever since then, I have been looking at the very large and the very small!” – Alex Muehldorf, Jamestown, (retired lab chemist)
“My dad’s special because he’s nice to my mom and he is very respectful. And he helps me clean my room! We go fishing and he helps me catch fish at New Melones! We shoot BB guns and we ride dirt bikes and quads and go to La Grange!” – Cameren Ambrose, Sonora, (5th grade student)
“My father’s special because he’s my hero and I love him! He does many things for our family. He cares for us all and goes to work to make money for our family. And he helps us, like, if we need help with our homework. He’s just always there to help us! Our family’s gone on trips together. We’ve gone to Yosemite, Disneyland; we’ve gone camping. We got a mini-bike and he built it for us! And he takes me hunting for deer! I got to watch him shoot his buck; and I got to help him gut it and take all the guts out! I also helped him lift a really heavy buck into the back of his truck!” – Marcie Hanson, Sonora, (8th grade student)
