By Richard Mabey Jr.

In the early Summer of 1964, I was 10 years old and had just completed the fifth grade. It was in late June, when school was let out for the rest of the summer, that my Dad, my good friend, Stuart Steinhauser and myself began working on building a mastermind tree fort. It was completed by the middle of July of that year. It was a most elaborate three-tier tree fort, build upon the old, towering maple tree in the
backyard of the old Mabey Homestead.

I remember on the main platform of my tree fort, Dad, Stu and I secured an old kitchen table. It was an incredible feat, to say the very least. In the old garage, which many years ago had served as the barn for Great Grandpa Mabey’s two mules that were used to pull boats along the Morris Canal, Dad dug up a block and tackle apparatus. With thick manila rope and a heavy-duty pulley, Dad pulled up the heavy kitchen table, while Stu and I guided the table to the spot that we had marked out on the main platform.

I don’t know what it was about that moment in time. The smile that I remember on Dad’s face, when he had successfully pulled up the heavy kitchen table and shouted up to Stu and I, “okay, boys, take if from there!” It was Dad’s vote of confidence in my friend and I to carry on the task. We nailed down the four legs of the table, while Dad climbed up the ladder to the main floor of the tree fort.

“You boys did a good job, securing this down! Good job!” Dad congratulated us. It was such a magical moment in time. My father was proud of both of us. His happiness and pride shined forth from his face. I will never forget Dad’s smile that Saturday afternoon, over 60 years ago.
Placing an old kitchen table upon the main floor of a tree fort, may seem like a small, insignificant accomplishment in the grand scheme of things. But, back when I was 10 years old in the Summer of 1964, it seemed as though we had moved a mountain.

In early September of this year, I turned 73 years old. I am becoming an old man. It’s a funny thing, in the past few nights, I dreamt of the wonder, the magic, the majesty of building my old tree fort with Dad and Stuart. I loved my father with all of my heart, mind and soul. It’s been over 20 years ago that Dad went Home to be with the Lord. I still cry tears of mourning for my beloved father.

If there are any words of advice and wisdom that I can share with the young fathers out there, it would be these words. Your children will forget what kind of car you drove when they were young. They won’t remember that you worked all those hours overtime at your job, to have the kitchen renovated. But they will remember the time you spent with them to help them with a special project. When they’re old and
gray, they’ll look back at the time you spent with them and smile a bit, and then probably shed a few tears, for wanting to go back in time, even for just 10 minutes.

Love one another. Cherish the time that you have together. Your children do not care how much your watch cost. They don’t care if your car has a 101 options. They don’t care how much your clothes cost.

What they really want is for their father to take the time and help them with a special project. For truly, love is the single most powerful force in the universe.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has recently had two books published. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard may be contacted at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.