REAL DADS OF THE METRO
Cool Pops
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Congratulations to the top five finalists in our Best Dad Advice contest! Learn more about these Cool Pops here, then head to metrofamilymagazine. com/contests to vote for your favorite story by May 31. We’ll announce the reader-voted winner on Father’s Day, and he’ll receive a $250 prize package
from Sun and Ski Sports! All five finalists receive dad swag from Red Coyote, Elemental Coffee, Anthem Brewing and MetroFamily. Thank you to each of these prize sponsors and to everyone who nominated a Cool Pop!
Dr. Dale Cabiness “My dad was a quiet and well-educated person. If he spoke, you should listen. His favorite advice if you were having a bad day was: ‘Go find a smashed toad in the road and eat it. Nothing else the rest of your day could be any worse!’ We lost my dad to cancer in 2017 at the age of 80. We should have eaten a toad that day.” Nominated by LaDawna Frasier
Chris and Lance Evans “I’m nominating two cool dads. They are the parents of the beautiful Chrystian Lauren. What makes them ‘cool dads’ is that they are the definition of love conquers all! Both of these cool dads have overcome every obstacle and storm in their path. They consistently defy all odds and prove daily to the world that love overcomes hate, has no color and no sexual orientation. Chris and Lance are love! What’s cooler than that?!” Nominated by Princess Easter
PHOTO BY ABI RUTH
Alireza Shahkarami
“My candidate is the best father I can think of. A graduate of West Virginia University with a PhD in petroleum engineering, this father calls rural America his home despite having been born elsewhere. His expertise in data science does not prevent him from dedicating time to his family and his 1-year-old son. From playing hide and seek with his son to building him a set of shelves or fixing dinner, this man is well-rounded in life and what’s important. He is the most giving, honest and kind person I know. Despite his science background, he is an avid reader of literature, and he is his wife’s
first reader (a published poet). So gently he cradles his son to help him fall asleep and so lively he lifts him up in an embrace as he teaches him traditional dances from his part of the world that any heart will instantly melt if witnessing these abundant moments. This man volunteered to help when a terrible earthquake destroyed his hometown, buying refuge homes for families without any shelter. He wakes up everyday in gratitude for his life. How extraordinarily lucky I am that this man chose to spend his life with us!” Nominated by Roxana Cazan
40 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAY-JUNE 2021
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