Tuesday's Tribute

Today I thought I'd do another tribute - because today's date happens to be somewhat significant. Today is my daddy's birthday. He would have been 61 today. I often find myself thinking of my dad whenever I see the time on a clock read 2:17. Most of the time it makes me smile, thinking it's our own private connection still. It's been a long three years that he's been gone; some sad days, lots happy, and lots of life lived without him to share it with.

My dad was an amazing man. He grew up in the south, met my mom in college, she gave him mono and then not too long after that they were married. They moved to California and moved into the house I called home not too long after. A year later I arrived. I was Daddy's Girl. Now being from the south my dad had an accent - over the years it lessened but being Daddy's girl - I still to this day say certain things with a twang or a drawl and it gets worse when I'm tired. I don't drink milk, I drink melk. I didn't have a dog growing up, I had a dawg. I don't get tired, I get tiard. Although my dad had his own word such as rurnt as in you won't ruin it, and pillar more commonly known as pillow. My dad worked a lot when we were kids, but always had time for camping trips and time with the family. I remember trips with his ham radio club to breakfast and then out to adventures of hunting down the signal. He would put up the tent in the backyard for us, he helped out with Girl Scouts by showing us how to fix cars. He was a loving father.

It was 2002 when my father first admitted he wasn't well - really he went until he was almost done. He was diagnosed at the time with emphysema and osteoporosis. My dad was a lifetime smoker and it ultimately is what killed him. I despise smoking. As time went on he had waves of good days and bad. Eventually he had to quit working and go on disability as he just wasn't able to do it. He was put on oxygen full time. He ultimately ended his battle in January 2006 with his family around him until he took his last breath. While devastated we were at peace that he was no longer in pain. He lived a good life.

He walked me down the aisle in 2004. He watched me and my brother graduate. He did not get to meet his grandchild(ren) but Ace has his eyes. He loved with his whole heart from everyone around him to every stray animal. He is my daddy. I love and miss him every day.