Kind of an annual tradition now, I’m sending my “Monday Subscribers-only post” a day early. Re-sharing my Father’s Day story from 2020. And I’m making it available to all.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, upstanding men, and boys aspiring who help us along the way. It takes a village, as they say. ~JRC
(Warning - plot spoilers ahead. But has anyone not seen Back to the Future?!)
A Father's Day note, for all the George McFlys out there
Kids give us dads courage we thought we never had
First published on June 21, 2020
George McFly, Marty McFly's father in Back to the Future, was - let's face it - a wimp. It wasn't until his son traveled back in time, disrupting history, that George came into his own. By a twist of fate, thanks to Doc Brown's time-traveling DeLorean, George becomes the man he was always meant to be. The film is one of my all-time favorites and is an excellent metaphor for the challenges and rewards of fatherhood.
Early on, we see George McFly bullied by Biff Tannen, who we learn has been pushing George around his whole life. Afraid to stand up, George has failed in many ways, not becoming the person (and sci-fi writer!) he always wanted to be.
But through a chance event, Marty travels in time back to 1955 where he helps his father George to...ahem, grow a pair. George McFly defends Lorraine (Marty's future mom) against Biff, and this time wins her love honestly. In the end, George's newfound confidence helps him transcend his mediocre fate.
The story concludes with George now a professor with a successful writing career. It's a literal embodiment of how children can change our fate. While real-life fathers don't get a time-traveling do-over like George, fatherhood gives us dads a chance to reflect. Parenthood helps us make positive changes for children, ourselves, and our futures.
As a dad myself, I've experienced this transformation as I've redefined my priorities. It almost feels like time-traveling at times, seeing the world again through a child's eyes. And it's probably added years to my life now that I make more careful and thoughtful decisions. Yes, it's a fantastic eye-opener into a world of love and compassion beyond myself. And it feels like a second chance too.
I appreciate and love my son immensely, of course. Being a dad has taught me to love and care for others, far more than I ever did before. And I now understand better all my pop had to sacrifice and change. He was and continues to be a great father to me.
There are those born strong, capable of standing up to the bullies in life from the get-go. And then there are those George McFlys among us, timid but given strength through fatherhood. Being a father provides the reason and courage to be more than we ever could alone.
Here's to all the George McFlys being strong even though it's hard. And to all the Martys as well, those kids that teach us to be better and more loving men.
Happy Father's Day, everyone.
JRC
Mnium has one of the most exceptional dads I know and I feel so lucky. Thank you for being everything he needs and beyond, his love for you is pure and infinity. He’s the thing that ever happened to us 🥰