Baby Elephant Walk

Elephants

Fathers just have a way of putting everything together. - Erika Cosby

Hatari is one of my all-time favorite movies.  

It stars John Wayne as the leader of professional game catchers in Africa. What I love best about it besides the breathtaking vistas of Africa?

The baby elephant walk scene.

Picture this.

Three baby elephants in single file, prancing on the tips of their toes to a catchy tune on the way to a waterhole to bathe. 

Swaying to shift their weight for comfort, they surprisingly walk quietly on the spongy cushion of their heels.

I've always thought it to be the cutest walk-dance ever.

So what makes this a Father's Day blog?

You see, Saturday was free movie day for families at Erlanger where Dad worked as an office manager. Enterprisingly, he literally brought the movie experience home to us. 

He actually lugged the projector and all its accoutrements so that we could have a weekend of movies at home.

I can't help but beam, picturing him puttering behind the single projection system and balancing a reel, cuing up segments on a spool. Adjusting his eyeglasses, he would calibrate the system such that it made the optimal display on a white sheet that he had tacked on the living room wall.

For the most part, I think that he did not mind being unsung.

Unpraised. 

Unnoticed.

Front pavement of Emilia compound,
Manila

He didn't disagree when I told him he was goofy. I wish I'd inherited his ability to fall asleep anywhere, anytime.

It was only when I grew into adulthood and stepped back from him did I realize and appreciate his greatness.

To this day, as I play in my mind the catchy elephant walk, I couldn't help thinking, I wouldn't trade him for anything, but then again, no one has offered me anything yet.