Monday, June 22, 2009

Dad and Me

I am so very fortunate to have such a wonderful family to love and be with. You might be able to tell how much fun we have together.

So here, in June, when we think of Father's, I want you all to know that I do love this daddy of mine. I must admit that I have feared him a little bit too, to be honest. But he has been with me all my remembered life, and I have always known his deep abiding love.

So what are the things that I remember from growing up? Let's see....

I remember daddy always working, hard. I remember him getting sunstroke from working in the yard at West Point - seeing him all red and gasping for breath in the bathroom, nearly falling over. I remember him repairing the tile in that bathroom - what a mess.

I remember him at dinner with us all of an ordinary evening, and how he was pretty strict with the discipline. I remember being given a time to be home (7:00 PM), and taking my friends advice and going in to ask - couldn't I PLEASE stay out until 8:00 with everyone else? - and getting grounded for a week as a result. Never did that again.

I remember him telling me when I got in trouble that I just couldn't stand posterity, could I?

I remember him at the beach, enjoying the sun, sand, surf, and fuzzy navels. (We still do this today!) I remember him playing with me in the water and I remember when he and mother built sand castles with me. I remember the swimming lessons, the camping and hiking.

I remember him being just as excited as I was when I got golf clubs, and how much fun fun fun we had on the courses.

I remember us all singing in the car, and how wonderful his bass voice sounded with Mother's fantastic alto harmony.

Daddy still has great fun with us all at Christmas, and I will always remember how he loves the holidays just as much as we all do.

As life is changing, Daddy still can get angry fast at things and have quite a temper. I remember him arguing with momma over nothing, and her arguing back. I remember times when they were the best I have ever seen together, and times when they have been the grumpiest.

But Daddy has also brought some of the greatest chuckles we have ever shared. He still makes us all laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh with his dry wit and humor. For example, I remember him waking up after his heart surgery in terrible pain, and when I told him that he wasn't looking so good he said, "Well, I don't know what you're talking about! You aren't looking so great either!" And then despite the pain, he chuckled!

I know that Daddy has always loved every one of us to distration every minute of his life. And we - we always love him right back.

Love you daddy.

2 comments:

Mage said...

What a lovely piece and picture. Thank you.

Buffy said...

This photo is just amazing.

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