Father’s Day reminds me how very lucky I am… would like to share a few things about my dad:
My Dad, Father, the man who raised me is a wonderful person. I am so lucky to still have him here with me. He has been through so many illnesses in the past couple of years. Just this year alone (Feb, March and April), he was hospitalized for about 10 days each visit. I didn’t know if he would make it through a couple of times, and he gave me quite a scare, but he pulled through yet again. His sheer determination (okay, and a dash of stubbornness) really helped. I am so thankful to have him here today – and every day.
I have some fond memories of dad that I would like to share with you, so you too, can know the kind of man my dad is.
I remember as a little girl, I idolized him…I still do. But I wanted to go anywhere and everywhere with him. Believe it or not, I got excited to go to the dump…as long as I was with him, that is all that mattered. I would stand on the back of his truck plugging my nose while he emptied the junk from the truck. I helped a bit too, using the broom he brought for me.
We did more exciting things, too (LOL), like we went to the beach often. I always enjoyed those wonderful sunny days, with Mom, Dad and I. On the way home we would stop at the neatest little pizza place, “Romanos”. It is not there anymore, but it was always so special. They had cute little lights (like the small Christmas lights), strewn around the inside of the restaurant. They had the best pizza ever too.
I remember every Christmas, Dad would take me shopping for mom. I have such fond memories of this – it is something I looked forward to every year.
When I was about 14 years old, mom was visiting her sisters in Mississippi, but asked dad to take me shopping for some “dressy” shoes for an upcoming wedding. He took me to the shoe store, and I found the cutest wedge shoes, with a heel about 3 or 4 inches tall. I asked if I could get them and he said “Sure!”. Now, mom never would have let me get shoes with heels that high, and I knew this, but poor Dad had no idea. He got in trouble when she came back home LOL. Thanks Dad!
When I graduated from high school, Dad sent Mom and I to Europe for almost a month. He wanted to come too, but he had to work. The trip was a dream come true to Mom and I as we visited England, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Italy. It was such a memorable trip and Mom and I had a blast. Thank you Dad.
When I was about 20, I moved with my boyfriend to a city about four hours away from home. This guy stopped working, while I worked to pay rent, for food, and everything else. It was a really bad situation and Dad knew this, and I know he felt helpless. At one point we only had bread to eat. This was certainly not how I was raised, and I know it broke my dad’s heart. I got a phone call from Dad one day and this is what he said (I’ll never forget it), “I don’t know if you can talk, so just listen…I’ve wired $100 to you at Western Union. Here is there address, and here is the code word. Make sure you spend it on yourself only.” I picked up the money and $100 seemed like $1,000 at that time – I could buy food!
When reminding him about this story about a year ago, he got so upset, wondering why he only sent $100. “Why didn’t I send more, oh geez. I should have sent more”. He was so worked up. I told him how far that $100 went and how grateful I was. I certainly didn’t mean to make him feel bad, I only meant to tell him how I never forgot his kindness.
Eventually I moved back home (after 8 months really – a hard lesson learned).
I was a single parent when I had my son, and my son and I lived with my parents. We had the downstairs of the house. I remember I was so exhausted when my son was a newborn. Getting up several times a night was just wearing me down. My Dad loved my son with all his heart. I felt so alone in the middle of the night until I would hear my dad’s bedroom door open upstairs…yes, he actually would get up with me in the middle of the night. He would offer to feed my son, and many times told me to go back to bed and get some rest. He would feed my son, then after he got him back to sleep, he would put him back in my room. They were little buddies for a long time – I remember my son “helping” grandpa build a fire in the fireplace. It was so cute.
I could go on and on, but it would take several days to tell you about all of the nice things my dad has done. Dad could always make things “all better”, whether I was hurt, or whether I got myself in a stupid situation. He helped me with my cars, and dealt with insurance when I had minor collisions (LOL). But he also helped me to become independent, and I was ready to face the world when the time came. Dad is my hero, the man I look up to and admire every single day. Dad will hold a special place in my heart always.
I love you Dad.
Your Eighty MPH Mom
