1) When I was just a little tike and he’d scoop me up and dance me around the room while he sang Daddy’s Little Girl by The Mills Brothers – and later, when I got big enough, standing on his feet while we danced. (I can clearly remember dancing in the living room on Ballentine Road.)
2) Sitting in his lap when I was about 4 while I sang Baa Baa Black Sheep to him and having him praise me like I’m about to nail a recording contract.
3) Lying on the couch next to him while he read the paper and pretending that I was reading, too (the inserts that were small enough for me to handle).
4) Thinking at that time that he should run for President. He’d win, hands down.
5) On the evenings that mom had to work, sitting around the dinner table with him and my brother having a contest on who can get the most stats correct for each player on the "early 70's" Miami Dolphins football team (stats printed on our Miami Dolphins glasses, courtesy of Aunt Mar and Uncle Bob who sent them from Miami).
6) The nights we got to go to Burger King in lieu of him cooking (when mom worked), and being so proud that he let me have a Whopper (instead of the Jr.) because I’m big enough to finish it!
7) Going to the library after dinner to pick out books, records, or movies.
8) The weekend evenings that he’d rent a reel to reel movie projector from the library and a huge stack of reel to reel movies to watch. He'd get out the big movie screen, dim the lights and make big bowls of popcorn; just like the movie theater… Laurel and Hardy was one of my favorites.
9) Going to Webster’s Pond on summer evenings or lazy Saturdays and feeding the ducks.
10) Going to Arctic Island for ice cream after we fed the ducks. I always had chocolate dipped in chocolate; soft chocolate ice cream with the hard chocolate coating.
11) Listening to the radio in the car when a song came on that evoked a memory for him – and having him share with us what it reminded him of… something from his childhood, perhaps about his sisters or his school days. I also loved the stories about when he and mom were dating.
12) Sitting in the back seat of the car listening to my parents talk; they often had good, meaningful conversations while we were enroute – setting good examples without realizing it (though, I'm sure they took into consideration that the kids are within ear shot).
13) Sleeping in his old high school foot ball jersey.
14) His willingness to duck when he dropped me off at the ice skating rink because in junior high, it was completely uncool to be dropped off by your dad.
15) Late night conversations about everything under the sun.
16) The important life lessons he taught about integrity and diplomacy by just living life the way he is.
17) The long, story-like examples he would give relating to the point he was trying to get across (usually about my safety), as I'm going out the door.
18) Him not reprimanding me for rolling my eyes and exclaiming, “I know, Dad” as I’m going out the door!
19) The way he always made me feel like I was his priority.
20) The way he embraced my husband as a son.
21) As a grandpa, the way he gave my daughter her own long list of precious memories.
22) Dancing again with him at my daughter’s wedding while “Always Be Your Baby” by Natalie Grant played in the background (Joe and Kristiina's special song, but oh, how appropriate!).
"...You were my first love, always there for me. You taught me how me to walk and how to dream. God gave me your eyes, but it was you who showed me how to see. The way you loved me made me who I am in this world. You are my hero and that will never change. You still can dry my tears with just your smile, and I know by the look in your eyes I'll always be your baby. Your faith, your love and all that you believe have come to be the strongest part of me; and wherever this life takes me, I'll always be your baby..."
2 comments:
Thank you very much!
Hi Pam,
Alana sent me a link to your blog address. She was so impressed with your writing, I am too. Just wanted you to know that I am, and have been, praying for your dad and for you and the family. I lost my dad almost 10 years ago, and I know what you are going through. If you ever want to talk to someone who's been there, give me a holler. God has been faithful to me and my family. He will be to you and your's as well. I know you already know that but sometimes its good to put some flesh on it.
Carol
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