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.

Tuesday's Tribute

There are many things that can be done on Tuesdays: tips, tackling household work, or today's choice - taking time to blog about someone else. - To discuss someone else rather than ourselves and our immediate circle of life around us. And thus today, I'd like to take this time to talk about my grandma.

She is a beautiful woman of God and she is loving beyond what seems possible. She always offers kind words to anyone that needs them, she will listen with the utmost patience - even to that relative that yammers on and on about medical conditions - she takes everything in stride and all with a Godly and loving attitude. I miss living close to her. When I was little I didn't attend "structured" preschool. I had my preschool in my grandma's family room. We sang songs together while I was on the swings in her backyard. She bought me a dress every easter, and bought me my most special dress: my wedding dress when that day came. She loves her great grandson with every ounce of her being. She is a wonderful cook and even on this last trip goes out of her way to make me the pancakes she's been making me since I was big enough to chew - she's the only one that can do it right. She is the backbone of our family. She is a blessing. You can hear her laugh even when she isn't around. She's traveled and lived throughout the world. She has a story for just about every subject. She is my Grandma.