Daddy's Little Girl & Qualities of a Few Good Men

Daddy's Little Girl & Qualities of a Few Good Men

Just the other day, I have had the honor to help out a friend named Matt who works writing stories. He is working on a story for Match/MSN for Father's Day (June 17th 2007) and he wanted to know "what knowledge re: dating & relationships your dad imparted."

It evoked me to write the following just for Luckynotes:

Scroll down to the underlined subtitle if you just want to hear my dad's advice to me, read-on if you want to hear about what attributes I would like to find in someone as my life long partner whom just may have similar characteristics I find essential and unique from my dad. Warning: I have alot to say so skip to about 12 paragraphs down if want to just hear the advice. Here it goes!

Since I could remember, as a tiny-tot, I always ran to daddy as opposed to mommy, because he let me have my way, and if he didn't he explained to me patiently, the reasons why I should wait or shouldn't have something. All of the reasons were for my own good. Throughout becoming a young woman, he has always been a role-model, in the sense that I compare each potential guy I dated to see if they'd match up to his talents.

I wanted someone just like him in a partner I think because he made my childhood so fun, exciting, easy, and stress free. I never noticed the tough times because he always took all my fears away. I hope a guy that I will spend the rest of my life with has some of these qualities in hopes that married life will be equally fun, adventurous, and as smooth even during the times that can be tough.

My father was born in 1934 and came from a tough childhood. I won't mention everything because I'm sure you think you know someone who's life is more difficult but I will just say this that he had 5 sisters of which is 1 older sister and 3 younger sisters. Before his adolenscene years, his father who was an officer, passed away at the age of 9. He quit school to help his family by working hard and even support the family full of young girls. At that early of an age he learned responsibility. Leaving his education behind, he knew the importance of education and he vowed to catch up. He did, after he joined the navy.

He worked with the U.S. navy when he had joined the Thai navy and quickly made it up the ranks at an E-9 status. After this, he went to finish school. Finishing naval experience made him a man of higher tolerance, with leadership skills in making great decisions and sticking to them. He's seen things others wouldn't believe in enemy fire, and decisions that were a matter of life and death during the Vietnam and Korean wars. He knows survival.

He made it just in time to meet up with old classmates who were in the same grade as him when he had left school behind. Afterwards, he received high honors from Thammasat University, a prestigious school in Thailand where the King of Thailand gives out the degree by hand!

It wasn't all war for him, he also was a ballroom dancer, and loves music. He found this love of dancing in the navy. Music is something you can feel even though you can't see it. Music is like love. A dancer usually is a person who can adapt to their partner, and is intuitive. This skill is enhanced because they usually know when to lead the one they are with and when to support them when they need to as a couple. I know have this love of dance and admiration for other dancers.

Remember when I said he graduated from Thammasat University? Yes, he studied law and was a quick-witted lawyer. Lawyers are always great to have around because they are clever, have discussions unlike any other with unbelievable stories to tell. They know what they're talking about, because they have to. Persons like this are so smart they know how to make the impossible, possible. I love wonderful surprises and when he made miracles come true!

He is an entrepeneur. In the 1980s, he owned three restaurants "Ralph's Vienna Hot Dogs", "Anne's Fried Rice", and "Anne's Chop Suey" in the southside of Chicago near 61st and King Drive and 73rd and Jeffery. For those of you who are from Chicago, you know how ghetto this area is next to the "EL" stop. You need courage, guts "balls" as some might say not only to drive through the area during those times but to set up a restaurant and gain respect of the whole community!

Only he could convince my mom and the employees to make a living in those streets. Inside the stores we had bullet proof glass, man trap turn styles to pass the food they had ordered and locks for the inside and the outside in collaboration to work with the alarm system and company that called us often at night. Oh yeah it was safe inside but getting in and out of the restaurant wasn't always easy especially with young me in hand. He gained the respect from officers, pimps, crackheads, hard asses, arabs, grandmas, everyone in the 'hood'. Because of him, I've seen things other people wouldn't believe. I just love the business success he's had along with the respect he gained from all.

He made the right decision when he looked for new opportunity in 1993 when I turned 13. He and my mom, moved us out to a university town one hour west of Chicago that was in need of a great Thai restaurant because there was not even one and there was great education there for me. People I met here did not know what we went experience we've been through in Chicago. It was like escaping hell and going to heaven with the different demographics and demeanor of the educated class of people who went to the University and innocent hicks who didn't know that Thai food wasn't Chinese food.

He was an artist by birth right. My grandmother was one that helped design and put together many temples in Thailand. All of my aunts are in artistic line of works whether it be belly dancing, cake decorating, or designing something.

In the U.S. he would take on odd jobs while he owned the restaurant selling gold and insurance. He would do construction while designing many Thai restaurants for others for money on the side. Once he built a natural looking waterfall with his buddies, it was so cool! He also constructed Thai classical architecture in our "now" previous Thai restaurant in DeKalb and in the present one he has opened in Peoria, IL called "Taste of Thai."

He was a teacher in many ways. One guy, Javier, who never hammered a nail he had become a professional carpenter by the time he was finished helping my dad construct the restaurant. Javier also continued to get construction work from others afterwards. I was too young to realize what a great lesson I could have attained from them. The only thing I chose to do while they were constructing away was to roller blade inside the restaurant because to me, being pulled by my dogs Spotty and Lee and on wheels seemed more fulfilling at the time. Haha! I was taking advantage of the uncarpeted dining room floor. My dad inspired me to always draw, build, and create visions from my mind. I think I have the gift of innovative ideas from him.

He is the best chef, and I'm not only saying this because he is my father but he's worked in five star hotels to fast food restaurants, cooking "chicken wangs" when it was "Five for a Dolla" to double cheeseburgers, with tacos and tamales to gyros and pizza, from English stews and Indian curries, from sticky rice to jasmine rice, from steak to peking duck.

I remember when he introduced tofu into the restaurant that was located in a predominantly farm/university town when it wasn't yet popular. A community that never heard of tofu at all! By being informative and answering customer questions about tofu, they grew to requesting this acquired taste to become a demand bringing sales to 90% by our local customers the time we sold our restaurant in 2005. In 1994 it was less than 1%! Since age 16 till now, I had been exposed to so many types of cooking but none so vast, flavorful and beautifully decorated as my dad's.

He is also a great entertainer to all his friends, I learned the importance of what really is a great friend from him and I have only seen a few of this in my life time. He is never embarassed to stand up for his points and back it up with good reasons. He supports people but never just follows the crowd for the sake of being accepted and he quickly gains agreement when he tells them.

He always makes it a point to be charitable and give back, which to this day, I am doing what I can daily when there is an opportunity. In Buddhism, we have something called "tum boon" which practices the "act of giving to those in need". I love doing this, strangers most likely observed and do the same.

He and my mom share great love and interest in upbringing me in a household that has both parents. They tried to balance and be harmonious for me. I was observant myself and would often talk back just to hear them say, "Do as I say and not as I do" because they too know, they're not perfect, don't waste time and learn from their mistakes.

Most importantly, my dad is a great father, who always makes me feel special, and he encourages me to pursue the highest education for more opportunities. I only need six more classes before I receive my MBA! I have him and my family to thank.

He has believed in me even when I thought I couldn't do something. Because of him, I was in the gifted program at age eight. He always double checked my homework at night after he finished work and by breakfast, he had check marked the problems I should redo and would be there to explain if I needed the extra help. He also encouraged me as a young child when he rewarded me with a trophy because I was able to get into the gifted program. All the school gave me was a flimsy certificate. Finally, I have earned my own trophies since then, but he will always be the first to give me a taste of what it was like to achieve with recognition from his heart.

He taught me to exceed above what I thought I could do. Growing up was so fun because he gave me a love of nature outdoors with creeks, ponds, camping, boating, animals, music, sports, techniques and travel. I had a jungle in my house at one point. This included my two dogs, a parrot, chameleon, a school of fish, and a bunch of hamsters. We used to go camping all the time when I was younger. I was so competitive in sports, not to mention a champion in sack races in sunday school competitions and during relay races in elementary school. Thanks to him, I learned classical piano playing by ear and but hated practicing often pounding the piano when I was frustrated but my parents would sit there and listen if not while they were cooking. As I would sometimes played one song 20 times over until I would get all the notes right. My dad was the loudest to say "Great! Great! Good Job" Just like my piano teacher had done during my lessons. I feel fortunate to have learned this skill of playing an instrument, thanks to mom and dad.

I also have many scars to prove what a tom boy I was when I was younger. I could have learned Thai Kick Boxing and Sword fighting also but I was too hard headed to learn the pre-requesite in training of how to respect the masters who came before us. He was a showman of these form of combats. My dad took the swords away from me. I wanted to jump to the good part but he did not let me proceed until I was going to respect the masters and learn the "Wai Kru" technique.

I do remember boxing with him anyway from gloves we got from Toys R Us. I would box with my childhood friends and a few times with him. Once even telling him, "hit me harder! Harder!" and when he did, I saw stars! Everything was fun, and an adventure!

Typing all this out just brought out more memories I just had to relive again but well finally. . .I think a true man doesn't have to have gone through all of these steps, but at least have the qualities that express a man in the relationship. Afterall, we are looking for a guy who will be a great father to our kids one day.

Dating advice he imparted upon me:

He taught me, Have dignity, value yourself, never settle for less, date a man who has an education and is going somewhere in life, one that has had more experience than me in some aspect. They have to be an endurable leader in the family. Someone who has seen the world, and dated enough so when he finds you, he knows he's found a great person is ready to settle down.

It's hard to find a good one with those qualities but for sure he should be someone smart, talented, and reliable like my daddy, Phayap.

I love you "Por"!

This is an early Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers!!!!!

Posted: 11:04 p.m. EST February 25, 2007 by Anne Meesriyong