Father’s Day always makes me think about Russ and Spencer (I lost my father when I was 16, so Russ was the only one I had celebrated, in my adult life, until Spence became a daddy, four years ago…)
They loved fishing together.
Looking at these photos, I can almost hear them laughing, telling stories, and giving each other a hard time. If you’ve ever spent a day fishing with family or friends, you know exactly what I mean.
The funny thing is, years later, I don’t remember how many fish they caught.
What I remember is how much they enjoyed being together.
Those trips were never really about the fish.
They were about Family time.
- Time to talk.
- Time to laugh.
- Time to make memories.
At the time, it probably felt like just another fishing trip.
Now, it feels like so much more.
One workplace accident changed our lives forever. Russ’s accident left him paralyzed, and our family spent over 30 years navigating challenges we never expected to face.
But it never changed the fact that he was Spencer’s dad.
- It never changed their fishing trips.
- It never changed the stories they shared or the memories they made together.
- In fact, some of my favorite photos of Russ and Spencer were taken years after the accident.
When I look at them, I don’t see limitations.
- I see a father and son doing what they love.
- I see perseverance.
- I see love.
- I see a relationship that mattered.
Father’s Day has a way of reminding us what is truly important.
- Not production numbers.
- Not deadlines.
- Not schedules.
The people we love and the memories we make when we spend time together with them.
As I visit job sites and speak with workers across the country, I often meet people who are working hard to provide for their families. They work long hours, spend time away from home, and carry a lot of responsibility.
I understand that.
But I also know that the people waiting for you at home don’t just need your paycheck.
- They need you.
- They need your presence.
- They need your stories.
- They need the chance to make memories with you.
That is one reason safety matters so much to me.
Every safety decision has the potential to protect a future memory that you’ll experience.
- Another fishing trip.
- Another family dinner.
- Another Father’s Day.
- Another ordinary moment that someday becomes a treasured memory.
The reality is that most incidents don’t happen because people don’t know better.
- They happen because people become busy.
- They become distracted.
- They become comfortable.
- They think, “It won’t happen to me.”
I know because my family lived that reality for over 30 years.
When Russ’s workplace accident left him paralyzed, the consequences didn’t end that day.
They followed us home.
They followed us into our family.
They followed us through nearly three decades of challenges, adjustments, victories, and lessons we never expected to learn.
That’s why I believe safety conversations matter.
Sometimes one conversation can make someone pause, think twice, and make a different decision.
And sometimes that decision changes everything.
If you’re planning a safety meeting, leadership event, or looking ahead to the second half of the year, let’s talk…
