I learned from my father to always keep

a pair of handy gloves in the garage,

to make sure I always have a toolbox in college,

in case your bed collapses

in the middle of the night.

I learned that duct tape is a revolutionary tool,

that you can make bottle caps into jewelry,

composing your garbage

into something beautiful.

I learned to alway snow plow the neighbors driveway,

when a 12 inch storm hit the night before.

I learned to not plug everything

into an outlet before burning out the electricity.

I learned to mount the ladder to drape

the christmas lights across the roof

after 15 years of not doing it,

until your daughters begged you to.

From my father, I learned to appreciate the mundane,

everyday things in life, like every mailbox,

to the dorm room’s dripping faucet,

from the storms that hit, to the babies you will snuggle,

to sewing every tired pair of gloves.