• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • BIO
    • About August
  • ARTICLES
  • BOOKS
  • true stories
  • PODCAST
  • MEDIA
  • Girl Boner
  • CONTACT

Girl Boner®

Sexual Empowerment with August McLaughlin

Home • Life • Happy Retirement, Dad!

Happy Retirement, Dad!

February 29, 2012

One day during kindergarden I stood before my classmates and shared my favorite “show and tell” to date: “My dad is a Minnesota Viking.” No, not the Scandinavian seafaring warrior type-viking, but a player on the pro-football team. This expose instigated one of many “May I speak with you?” conversations between Mrs. Webster and I. But you see, I wasn’t lying—not on purpose, anyway. At the time my dad worked nights at UPS. When he came to tuck me in, all suited up in his uniform, I thought he looked precisely like the valiant athletes on TV.

If you caught my earlier post today, you know that in the years since, my dad built a successful career with UPS, contributing to work I find far more admirable than football or fame. In honor of his retirement I decided to share one of the many gifts he’s given me: a love of music. The day he introduced me to John, Paul, George and Ringo, I had four fab friends for life—five, if you count my guitar.

When I hear “Norwegian Wood” I don’t think of its literal meaning but what it means to me and my family…much thanks to Dad. Hope you enjoy this recording—me on vocals, my friend Tom Bishel on guitar—and some assorted family photos.


To learn more about Tom and his music, check out his Facebook page.

HAPPY RETIREMENT, DAD! Lots of love… August

If you’d like to add your retirement wishes, I’m sure my dad would love to hear them!

Share with your friends!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Life, Music 41 Comments

SIGN UP FOR OCCASIONAL EXTRAS:

Previous Post: « Leaping Smart: Useful Steps for Authors
Next Post: Beautiful Breakups: What the Revision Process Can Teach Us »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristy K. James...Living, Loving, Laughing says

    February 29, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    Congratulations, August’s Dad! Hope you have a long, healthy and happy retirement.

    Reply
  2. Kourtney Heintz says

    February 29, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    What an adorable story! Happy Happy retirement to your dad!

    Reply
  3. Nigel Blackwell says

    February 29, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    Enjoy your retirement, after 40 years of being “on time” I’m sure you deserve it!

    Cheers!

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 1, 2012 at 10:31 am

      Great memory, Nigel! I definitely got that promptness gene from him.

      Reply
  4. Pat O'Dea Rosen says

    February 29, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    Congrats, August’s Dad, on retirement from UPS. You’ll never retire from fathering, which is good for August and the rest of the family.

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 1, 2012 at 10:31 am

      Beautifully said, Pat. Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Louise Behiel says

    February 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm

    enjoy your retirement – 40 years is quite an accomplishment in this day and age. August, thanks for sharing his story.

    Reply
  6. Angela Orlowski-Peart says

    February 29, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    Happy and a veeeeery long retirement, August’s dad!
    Love and appreciation for music is one of the most precious gifts that a parent can give to his/her child. You are the lucky one, August

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 1, 2012 at 10:32 am

      I so am. Thanks, Angela!

      Reply
  7. Julie says

    February 29, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    Enjoy your retirement, August’s dad! All the best!

    Reply
  8. Emma Burcart says

    February 29, 2012 at 7:18 pm

    What a great story! I remember being a kid & thinking all the Bob Dylan songs my dad sang were silly songs he made up himself!

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 1, 2012 at 10:39 am

      Ha… I love it, Emma. Some of Dylan’s songs sound pretty made up on the spot—in good ways, of course. I bet your dad digs that memory, too!

      Reply
  9. Tameri Etherton says

    February 29, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Congratulations August’s Dad!! I bet he’s super cool like you, August.

    Hey ~ the video won’t play for me. It says, ‘this video is private’.

    Reply
  10. patriciasands says

    February 29, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    Very sweet! I couldn’t open the video … got a message saying “This video is private.” Did anyone else have a problem?
    Happy retirement August’s dad! You are about to begin another adventure!

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 1, 2012 at 10:42 am

      Fixed! Sorry, gang. I didn’t realize I had the video set to “private.” Should work now. Thanks for the well wishes!

      Reply
  11. BoJo Photo says

    February 29, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    You had a creative imagination at a young age!

    Congratulations to your dad!

    Reply
  12. fivereflections says

    February 29, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    happy retirement to your dad – now he can do those things he dreamed of doing!

    David in Maine USA

    Reply
  13. fiercebuddhist says

    February 29, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    Beautiful sentiments. I hope my daughters have such fond memories of me.

    Reply
  14. Natalie Hartford says

    March 1, 2012 at 5:31 am

    Sooooo beautiful! Your post brought tears to my eyes…sniff…wonderful sentiments and love…HUGS to you and YOUR Dad!!!

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 1, 2012 at 10:43 am

      Aw… Thanks, Natalie!

      Reply
  15. David N. Walker says

    March 1, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Having raised a daughter, I probably know better than you do how much your father appreciates these two posts and your feelings toward him in general. You each fortunate to have the other.

    Reply
  16. Tiffany A White says

    March 1, 2012 at 8:36 am

    My mom just signed her retirement paperwork this week after teaching 44 years. I just don’t know what she’s going to do, but she’s earned it.

    Happy retirement, August’s dad!

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 1, 2012 at 10:44 am

      Forty-four years of teaching?! Such an accomplishment. Congrats to your mom, too!

      Reply
  17. Audrey Kalman says

    March 1, 2012 at 9:56 am

    Oh, dear, another post of yours that made me cry, in a most bittersweet way. I don’t even usually read my horoscope but today I did and it said, “Take stock of your past and indulge in memories that will bring your emotions to the surface.” Your song and pictures of your family did just that. Thank you.

    Reply
  18. Patricia says

    March 1, 2012 at 11:13 am

    That was a fabulous tribute! Your dad must be very proud!

    Happy retirement August’s dad!

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

    Reply
  19. alicamckennajohnson says

    March 1, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    Lovely- I hope he has a wonderful retirement.

    Reply
  20. Ingrid Schaffenburg says

    March 3, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Congratulations August’s Dad! Best wishes on this new phase of life

    And what a beautiful rendition of Norwegian Wood. Lovely voice August! I too come from a family of Vikings (Grandpa was born in Norway)

    Reply
  21. EllieAnn says

    March 3, 2012 at 11:10 am

    Happy Retirement to a valiant Minnesota Viking! Hope you enjoy your own time.

    Reply
  22. Stacy S. Jensen (@StacySJensen) says

    March 3, 2012 at 1:50 pm

    Happy retirement August’s Dad. Enjoy it! (Lovely song August)

    Reply
  23. Marla Martenson says

    March 3, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    Great tribute! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  24. Marla Martenson says

    March 3, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    Great voice too…

    Reply
  25. Barb says

    March 3, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    It’s amazing how a piece of music brings back memories. Lovely piece.. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’ll be back to learn more.

    Reply
  26. Sheila Seabrook says

    March 4, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    Happy retirement, August’s Dad! You have a wonderful daughter and now you have more time to spend with her!

    Reply
  27. Marty Feldkamp says

    March 5, 2012 at 9:45 am

    August,

    I have worked with your Dad for six years at UPS. It has been my honor. He does treat everyone with respect and I believe was so successful due to being genuine and honest with everyone. He is one of the few people that I have come across that you can count on to do the right thing every time. He is an all time Great, if not at football, at a much more important game, and that is life. He shared with me your story about your Grandma’s earrings and I can not put on a pair of red earrings with out thinking of you. He is so proud of his family, his wife and your mother, Caroline. I wish that I could meet each of you personally, however, I feel that I have.

    I thank you for sharing him with UPS for all of these years and hope each of your enjoy the time that you now have to share.

    Thank you,

    Marty Feldkamp
    UPS, Central Ohio District

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 9, 2012 at 5:29 pm

      Marty, I can’t thank you enough for your lovely note. Thanks also for being a part of his supportive work community. Our whole family benefited, and still does, from his years with UPS. Bless you!

      Reply
  28. mj monaghan says

    March 5, 2012 at 10:09 am

    Great photos and Happy Retirement to Dad!

    Reply
  29. Jenny Hansen says

    March 8, 2012 at 8:29 am

    August – I loved that video!! (Dang, you’re talented.) And you have your Dad’s eyes…that must make you happy every time you look in the mirror. It’s wonderful to see how much you love him.

    This is a great tribute – I agree with David. Your dad has probably watched that video 500 times already.

    Reply
    • August McLaughlin says

      March 9, 2012 at 10:00 am

      Thanks so much, Jenny!

      Reply
  30. Subhan Zein says

    March 16, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    I would like to say the same thing to my Dad!

    Subhan Zein

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Mom on 40 Love-Filled Years « August McLaughlin's Blog says:
    April 2, 2012 at 8:29 am

    […] see you at breakfast. He’d come home frozen to the bone and ravenous. That’s when you saw your Viking. Before even changing his clothes, Dad would go up and give each of you a big cuddle and if you […]

    Reply
  2. Gorilla Love: When April Fools’ Day Goes Right-ish | August McLaughlin's Blog says:
    April 1, 2013 at 6:05 am

    […] my heart, to treat others with kindness, to value togetherness over “things,” to celebrate music and concoct a mean batch of Indian curry. And though they’ve had their share of bumps along the […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Categories

Listen on Apple Podcasts!

Shop for toys 🙌🏾

Join me on Patreon!

© 2025 August McLaughlin – All Rights Reserved

I deeply respect and protect visitors’ privacy. Find details here.

%d