Stop listening. You might learn something.

I am my father's child, although we discussed this weekend that his love of the outdoors is a trait I sent scurrying down to my sister. I pursued my preference for air conditioning from birth, running right along behind my mama, who has a fan pointed on her no matter what room she's in.

I know it seems that growing up my father's wisdom fell on deaf ears, but it's really the kind of thing where you recall it when you need it, and refuse to admit its worth when it's delivered. So, in honor of my own wise and compassionate father, here are Ten Things I Heard From My Dad Growing Up That Are Proving Most Useful in Adulthood and Parenthood.

I have created table skirts and lampshades that look very expensive with duct tape as my adhesive. My daddy said "if it moves and it's not supposed to, duct tape it." So I do. They make that shit in CLEAR. You can literally put it on anything. Corey draws the line for where duct tape can and cannot go.

My dad is obsessed with dirty fingernails. He keeps "cutnails" (clippers) in every room, just in case something needs a clipping. If nails are long enough to capture dirt, they are too long and must be cut immediately. I wish I could grow long nails, but I can't. When I try, he still comments on the length. But I am now obsessed with Jake and Landen's fingernails, though I don't cut them as short as my dad does his.

My parents have jars and containers full of random bolts and screws. When he buys things that need assembling, he saves the extra pieces. He's done this for at least my thirty years of life. When something moves and it shouldn't and duct tape has been ruled out as the solution, all these bolts and screws get poured out on the kitchen counter and he always finds something that will work in there.

Every blessed Christmas, we hear the "Don't burn the pearls" story. It seems that one Christmas my grandfather had the inspiration and the resources to buy my grandmother a string of pearls. After she "oohed" and "aahed" over the surprise, she put them off to the side to continue gift-opening. At Wilson Christmas, the garbage is picked up immediately after the last present is opened. That particular year, the pearls were thrown away and were off to the incinerator before anyone knew they were missing.

I remember in high school I was pondering how to show my ass in the middle of a breakup, and my dad came out of his study whilst I was plotting. Whether he overheard or inquired I do not recall, but I remember him telling me that I should not do anything  that, if someone were to remind me of it years later, as friends and witnesses are wont to do, would not make me feel embarassed by my behavior. I am certain I did not heed that advice, and I know that I ignored it and brought shame to my name for years to come, but now I find that particular article of wisdom very profound.

My dad works all the time. When he's not working he's fishing, planning to go fishing, working on his fishing camp, or preparing for any of the above. When he's not doing any of those things, he's cleaning the kitchen at his house. Obviously, he naps daily. Or almost, if he's not on the road. If he goes home for lunch, there's a 30 minute nap in that schedule. Saturdays and Sundays have at least one per day. So, when the urge or necessity to nap is upon you, go with it.

My dad has one older brother and one younger sister and they all participated in a loving but tumultuous upbringing. They have a beautifully loyal, loving, supportive and honest relationship with each other. It is the reason I am obsessed with my own sister. She's the only sister I got.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." This applies to babies and gadgets. If the baby isn't crying, don't fool with it. If something is running fine, leave it alone.

"If you've gotta eat a turd there's no point nibblin'." This is not the advocacy of eating excrement. The point we have always taken is that if you have to do something unpleasant, you should just hurry and get it over with. But that doesn't have as much personality as saying it his way. It's all about delivery. Or presentation.

The secret of life is in the lyrics to country music songs, and ONLY country music songs. Happy, sad, lonely, joyful, fishing. There's a country music song written specifically for it.