Woody

I spent most of my childhood growing up without a father. You see, at the ripe old age of eight my biological father was taken from me tragically in a tractor-trailer accident. He was a professional driver and on a very bad blustery, icy night, he lost control of his big rig and died of massive internal trauma.

My memory of him is obscured at best due to my young age and his absence from being on the road a lot. The memories I have, have been given to me by others. I have always grown up believing that everything happens for a reason and the only coincidences are when God chooses to remain anonymous.

So I spent my childhood growing up not really knowing what I missed out on by not having a father. That is until I met a friend in my freshman year of high school named Paula. We became close friends (not boyfriend/girlfriend, but close friends). Soon I was spending all of my time with her. To make a long story short, I began to admire her father. He had all the qualities I would have hoped to have had in a dad of my own. Glenn “Woody” Schnitz is the man I have grown up thinking of as my dad.

Woody is full of kindness. He owns a small wrecker service and repair shop, but his generosity has kept him from amassing his fortune. I submit that he is rich beyond money. He loves what he does and he does what he loves. He is a devoted husband and father.

Woody has always treated me like one of his own. I have tried to treat him as a good son would. We do things for each other, but the best thing he has ever done for me was spend time with me. Those moments, (his passing on of wisdom, and his example of caring and doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do), have been priceless.

Woody is a man of integrity and moral character. He doesn’t mince words and will tell you what he thinks. One of the most giving person’s I know, he would give you the shirt off his back and offer you his pants too if he thought you needed them worse then he did. He does not comprehend the meaning of the word “no.”

I have watched this senior citizen traverse through many hardships. He has survived major open heart surgery. I’ve watched him struggle to make the bills of his business and still not charge a customer for changing their tire. I’ve watched him in his aging years and still till this day work circles around people three to five times his youth. I’ve watched him work 24 hours a day for several days on end and not complain about his lack of rest.

I’ve watched him in his wisdom take berating from customers and even his own kids all the while knowing that one day they would understand what it was he was trying to accomplish for their own good. Woody is a man of thoughtful consideration and he is gifted in not sweating the small stuff. When his wrecker was struck and totaled on the interstate, he laughed it off being thankful that he was alive and knowing the wrecker was an item that could be replaced.

I endeavor to one day be half the man he is. I hope to lead my life based largely from his example. I hope to be the kind of father to my own two boys he didn’t have to be with me.

Therefore, this Father’s Day I wish to say to Woody, I love you! I respect you! I admire you! You're my hero, my friend, my teacher, and my example.

Happy Father’s Day to my adopted Dad!