I love my parents. My father is intelligent, calm and collected. My mother is smart, kind, and tenacious. Both of them are very loving. In the Finnish way. They are also encouraging in the Finnish way.
Sage advice from my father while golfing yesterday:
"Hitting the ball is quite essential in golf."
"You should not hit the ball into the woods. They are harder to locate there."
"You should have aimed less towards the left than I told you to. Then it would have gone straight."
"You should try to see where the ball lands, then it will be easier to find."
"You should yell FORE! when you hit the ball towards me."
"You should avoid hitting people with the ball... or with the club."
"Sometimes it is hard to get out of a bunker, just keep hitting out the sand. Maybe the ball will come out with it."
Upon returning from successfully completing my fourth round of 18 holes, my mother finally concedes:
"So you might just be able to play after all."
Thanks guys!
22 comments:
Are you thanking them the Finnish way???
I loved the first 'sage' advice.
Yes, the first wisdom is an interesting one. I've been told the same thing in relation to tennis and softball recently. I said I would consider it.
Just goes to show ya, parents are the same the world over. Except me.
Anandi - This is me doing exactly that. Although it would perhaps be more fitting for a Finn to just write this in a journal never to be shown to anyone, least of all to the people one is thanking.
Polly - I'm still on the fence with this one. For me the 'hitting' just by itself sends quite a powerful message.
Muse - Wouldn't know, am most certainly not a parent and only have experience of two.
hahaha! this is so funny! but not when it's said at you, I guess ;-)
I would think hitting people with the ball or the club would be the fun part of the game.
I have never been golfing, but want to try it this summer. I think I'm just going to carry a few balls with me and throw them on the green when I can't find my original ball.
LOLOLLLOOLOLOLSNORTLOLOL.....oh,
that's the way to start the day, with a big belly laugh.....whew, your blog often makes me laugh, but, this one is hysterical! Bless you for playing golf with your parents....I'm not sure I'm woman enough to play with mine.
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when i was a kid, my dad (briefly) tried to teach me and my friend tonna to golf. he grew quickly impatient and as i recall, wrapped one of the clubs around tonna's neck about 15 minutes in. i've never really tried to golf since.
not true. i was married to a doctor and lived in arizona, so i went to a bunch of golf lessons. i was, however, only really there for the drinking.
i hate to putt, but can whale it off the tee. doesn't your father have some sage advice about putting?
Do you remember when we were talking about Mother's Day presents and we talked about writing down the things our parents say? Now you can print these words of wisdom, paste them on cardboard, add some color and wrap in foil. Ta Da! You have a great Father's Day present!
What I noticed is that not once did he suggest that you give up--which I think is very cool--even if he has to take cover whenever you are on the course! Hope you are buying at the 19th hole!
All important advice. Helpful and yet somehow also totally not helpful at all. At least, not helpful when you are actually there, trying to hit the ball. And not hit people.
You can learn way more about a person's character on a golf course than you can over a dinner table.
Your Dad has my respect.
http://corticowhat.blogspot.com/2009/03/golf-and-my-dad.html
I love it! Great advice. I agree with cortico about learning about people. When I'm (ahem)playing I take it all in stride --- and yes sometimes toss my ball on the green. And I don't keep score. But I have fun and that's what it's all about.
kristina - I am improving, so there's gotta be something to it...
Opie - Get ready. You can totally get hooked on golf. It is addictive, with or without bodily harm.
An Open heart - Thanks! You laughing makes my day.
julochka - I can give you advice on putting "hit the ball into the hole". Golf's easy... It really is... Really.
Cyndy - My dad is very cool and possibly king of the land of patience by now.
VEG - I did not hit people today (a new personal best). I only got my finger stuck between the putter and the wedge.
CorticoWhat - Thanks. Your dad has mine.
rxBambi - I wish the Extranjera who always has to be the best at everything right away would be like that. But, she is not. She goes crazy until she's awesome. She can never not keep score...
So, on a scale of one to ten, how patient are you when he says these things? (ten being extremely patient) I'd probably be a two, I think, if it was my dad. A seven if it was someone else's. Hey, I checked out the hermit book club and it looks just fantabulous - what do I do though - just jump in and comment?
Yes, I've heard most of that advice myself. Also when playing baseball I was told that I both throw and run "like a girl". I'm guessing that's not the preferred way to run/throw? I wonder how one would overcome such an affliction.
Patience is a virtue that I just don't have. Both of my teens have golf camps this week. My daughter is fine, good swing, has the confidence, she was on the Girls Golf Team last year in high school. My son, however, is a completely different story. Great swing if he doesn't try to KILL the ball, which of course he mostly tries to do. His confidence waxes and wanes. He says he wants to make the freshman team, then he says he suxs. I'm going to lose my mind!
Kristine - Completely depends on the kind of Extranjera that rears her head that day. So could be anywhere from 1 to 10. Also, depends on the actual comments and their tone and whether there is anyone else around who might somehow be lured into feeling guilty about my game sucking the big one, or be blamed as the reason for my game sucking the big one...
Re hermit book club: Just read the book and then jump in on the day of the discussion. You can also email to Iasa who runs the blog if you would like to post (you can tell her I sent you), otherwise you can just do comments during the discussion.
Welcome!
Erin - All I've ever heard is that I walk like an elephant (no I don't I've seen how they do it and I think their grace is out of my league) and drink like a man. Maybe there are support groups for all of these afflictions?
Lola - All I can tell you is that this thing is far too fickle. Last time I was out there I was feeling fine, until the last three holes, all of which I totally screwed up, didn't even hit the ball (never mind killing it) some of the times.... It is addictive though. Good luck with your kids, and welcome!
I grew up in a little cottage next to a golf course but have never played golf..........maybe just as well.
Glad to have discovered your blog.
GReetings from New York.
If you are into lists my book list is sometime last week..........but we have similar taste.......for long books.
Elizabeth - Thanks so much. I don't thin k golf is for everyone. Perhaps not for me either...
I'll c\heck out your books. Thanks.
I know exactly what you mean with the golf thing. I also think it is sometimes one of those better-laugh-just-in-case-a-tear-pops-out.
This is all awesome advice! How did you react to the third one? It's hilarious! If it was me and my father, my response to him saying 3rd would be doing something that would make him say 5th. Is that how it happened?
Betty - Exactly. A crying golfer is never a pretty sight. I don't know what a maniacally laughing one did for the crowd either, but at least it could have been funny.
B - Third one was followed by an elaborate discussion on the nature of 'advice' and really, I swear to you, all that happened was this post. I only like to rumble with strangers.
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