Packing the cat closet, like many of the jobs my faithful friends and family members encountered this weekend as we tackled a cross-town move, was indeed a Charlie chore. Charlie is my dedicated father. The grandkids call him Pepere. Pepere cheerfully tackles the things nobody else wants to do. From washing mountains of dishes after church gatherings to cleaning up after the children, dogs, cats, pet rodents and birds that have populated his life, Pepere has done it all. Nothing is beneath him: Everything is readily approached with quiet dignity and skill.
Approaching tedious tasks with dignity is one of many important things my dad has taught me. Another is honoring one’s body. Dad graduated from medical school in 1971 — the year I was born. Doctors recognized the importance of prevention back then, but it didn’t carry the weight it does now. Dad had his 10 children wearing sunscreen, bike helmets and seatbelts when these basics were not particularly in vogue. I remember wistfully watching other children as they slathered on the baby oil in preparation for a day of oceanside adventuring. Our lotion of choice? PreSun, SPF 15.
Dad also emphasizes prevention with his patients. As a family physician, he spends much of his time discussing ways to stay healthy, rather than simply waiting for diseases to occur and treating them. Thus I think that it is particularly appropriate that in addition to recognizing Dad with Father’s Day, we now celebrate National Men’s Health Week in June. National Men’s Health Week, which this year is June 11-17, is a time for the males in our lives to focus on their health-related “Charlie chores.” These include testicular-self exams, colonoscopies after age 50 and a myriad of other necessary, though sometimes less than pleasant undertakings (all of which can be found at www.menshealthnetwork.org).
In addition to advising his progeny and his patients to honor their bodies, my father also gently advocates that people honor their relationships with others. Dad has never met a person he does not offer respect and compassion to — and I’ve never met a person who doesn’t love Charlie back. He knows the names of everybody’s child and grandchild and always takes the time to swap family stories. He calls everybody “friend.” We’re lucky to have Charlie on this earth.
I know that I’m not the only one lucky enough to have a great Dad. I hope that this Father’s Day, all Switch readers will take the chance to celebrate their own wonderful Peperes. I also hope that the males among you will consider taking on their health-related “Charlie chores” during National Men’s Health week. After all, there are worse things than scheduling a colonoscopy or getting a prostate exam. Just ask my brother-in-law George about his cat closet experience …
Dr. Lisa Belisle is a family physician and advisor for the MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers. She practices medical acupuncture in Yarmouth, where she lives with her husband and three of Pepere’s grandchildren.