In Memory of My Dad

17 years ago this morning I lost my Daddy.  He was a really good man with a huge heart and a capacity for love unlike any other man I’ve ever known.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and miss him, but only the selfish side of me wishes he was still here.  The benevolent part of me is grateful that he found peace. I am happy knowing that he is comfortable, that he can breathe again and that he has no pain.  I know every day that he is with me and that he is proud of the woman I have become.  I know he is watching over me and that he knows his two grandsons and that he is extremely proud of the men they are turning into. 

I always knew I held a special place in my daddy’s heart. Perhaps it was because I was the baby girl, or maybe it was because we shared our birthday’s (a week apart).  Whatever the case, I knew we shared a bond that was unique to us.  Daddy was always there for me, highs or lows. I always felt his pride in me when I accomplished something, and I knew his arms would be there to pick me up if I fell down.  And I fell down a lot.

As a small child I remember he worked very hard to provide for a large family.  He was not always the one in the home, taking care of the day to day, it wasn’t a modern day household, but instead very traditional. But, he was always there when I needed him, he was my safety net, I trusted that.  I could spend days and days, pages and pages talking about my daddy…but I won’t do that here.  Let me just share that he was a good man with a big heart and a spirit that lives on and on and on. 

I miss him every day, but I always know he is around me.  I love you daddy, ALWAYS.