My Dad is a "real life nephew of my Uncle Sam....born on the 4th of July!"
When I was little my best friends Dad's birthday was the 24th of July so I sincerely believed that all Dad's had parades and fireworks on their birthdays!
My Dad is a lot of things.
He's always been a big, strong man. I remember him working out and lifting weights when I was little. In fact I remember him using me as a bench press. He played basketball and softball. I spent many a summer evening playing on the rock bleachers at Murray Park watching my Dad hit the ball into the pool. Because he was a pitcher-it was assumed that I could pitch for our Young Women softball team. Uhm....wrong!
I remember always feeling safe when my Dad was around. Once while floating down tube's on a river my mom-who always tends to get hurt somehow during water sports-went over a small waterfall and my Dad stood up and walked against the current to go take care of her and make sure she was alright. Not one other person-full grown men included could even stop! That's my Dad.
A few years ago he had a portion of his lung removed and his health has not been the same. I know it frustrates him to not be as physical and strong as he was but he's become stronger in different ways. He's sort of the level headed rock of our family. He's the phone number I always put as the 2nd person to contact in case of an emergency.
After his surgery he was on very strong pain meds that made this quiet, giant of a man talk and talk and talk. I joked that Dad on Lortab makes the best girlfriend! I loved it and I still love it when Dad starts reminiscing and sharing stories of his youth. Just a few weeks ago he told me a story about telling his Dad he was going to babysit at the neighbors house on New Years Eve-his Dad had been asleep and he woke him up to tell him. Well, apparently Grandpa wasn't very awake because when he got home there was police at his house as Grandpa and Grandma had no idea where he was and had called them!
He's never been big on lectures or lessons but man on man when I was little he could break my heart with just one "holler". I have very vivid memories of him putting me over his shoulder and patting my back trying to help me calm down as I couldn't catch my breath and hiccuped with sobs because "Daddy howered at me." He never had to raise his hand to us or lecture us to death just one bark of his gruff voice and we melted into sobs. I think he could still do that to me if he wanted to.
I will never forget when Austin fell off the tricky bars the 2nd day of kindergarten and broke his arm. I had left my cell phone in my car and was helping my sister move into her new apartment so the school called my Dad. He had just come through surgery himself-his lung removal- and he picked Austin up and took him to the ER all the while Austin hollering in pain over ever bump and dip. My Dad was white as a ghost when I saw him-I thought Austin must be dying based on how pale my Dad looked. Austin wasn't dying but my Dad was so worried and concerned and in pain himself and I'm sure being back in a hospital after just leaving a few weeks earlier didn't help either.
My Dad is a jack of all trades. Between him and James I don't think there is much they cannot fix. Dad's always helping me out with car issues or stuck garbage disposals while James is away.
Thirteen years ago we moved around the corner from my parents. At the time I wasn't sure it was a good idea but the deal we got on the house was too good to pass up so we took the plunge and moved in! Seven years later I guess we just weren't close enough (around the corner and down five houses) so we bought our current home which is on the same road and three houses apart! It's great to have my mom and dad so close.
So, Dad....I know you don't read my blog but I just wanted to document how much you mean to me and what a great dad and grandpa you are!
Happy Birthday!
When I was little my best friends Dad's birthday was the 24th of July so I sincerely believed that all Dad's had parades and fireworks on their birthdays!
My Dad is a lot of things.
He's always been a big, strong man. I remember him working out and lifting weights when I was little. In fact I remember him using me as a bench press. He played basketball and softball. I spent many a summer evening playing on the rock bleachers at Murray Park watching my Dad hit the ball into the pool. Because he was a pitcher-it was assumed that I could pitch for our Young Women softball team. Uhm....wrong!
I remember always feeling safe when my Dad was around. Once while floating down tube's on a river my mom-who always tends to get hurt somehow during water sports-went over a small waterfall and my Dad stood up and walked against the current to go take care of her and make sure she was alright. Not one other person-full grown men included could even stop! That's my Dad.
A few years ago he had a portion of his lung removed and his health has not been the same. I know it frustrates him to not be as physical and strong as he was but he's become stronger in different ways. He's sort of the level headed rock of our family. He's the phone number I always put as the 2nd person to contact in case of an emergency.
After his surgery he was on very strong pain meds that made this quiet, giant of a man talk and talk and talk. I joked that Dad on Lortab makes the best girlfriend! I loved it and I still love it when Dad starts reminiscing and sharing stories of his youth. Just a few weeks ago he told me a story about telling his Dad he was going to babysit at the neighbors house on New Years Eve-his Dad had been asleep and he woke him up to tell him. Well, apparently Grandpa wasn't very awake because when he got home there was police at his house as Grandpa and Grandma had no idea where he was and had called them!
He's never been big on lectures or lessons but man on man when I was little he could break my heart with just one "holler". I have very vivid memories of him putting me over his shoulder and patting my back trying to help me calm down as I couldn't catch my breath and hiccuped with sobs because "Daddy howered at me." He never had to raise his hand to us or lecture us to death just one bark of his gruff voice and we melted into sobs. I think he could still do that to me if he wanted to.
I will never forget when Austin fell off the tricky bars the 2nd day of kindergarten and broke his arm. I had left my cell phone in my car and was helping my sister move into her new apartment so the school called my Dad. He had just come through surgery himself-his lung removal- and he picked Austin up and took him to the ER all the while Austin hollering in pain over ever bump and dip. My Dad was white as a ghost when I saw him-I thought Austin must be dying based on how pale my Dad looked. Austin wasn't dying but my Dad was so worried and concerned and in pain himself and I'm sure being back in a hospital after just leaving a few weeks earlier didn't help either.
My Dad is a jack of all trades. Between him and James I don't think there is much they cannot fix. Dad's always helping me out with car issues or stuck garbage disposals while James is away.
Thirteen years ago we moved around the corner from my parents. At the time I wasn't sure it was a good idea but the deal we got on the house was too good to pass up so we took the plunge and moved in! Seven years later I guess we just weren't close enough (around the corner and down five houses) so we bought our current home which is on the same road and three houses apart! It's great to have my mom and dad so close.
So, Dad....I know you don't read my blog but I just wanted to document how much you mean to me and what a great dad and grandpa you are!
Happy Birthday!
1 of my blog friends said something...:
I love your dad, too. He has always been a hard worker,always working at something!! and he has a great sense of humor. I used to tend him when we were a "few years younger" .He had a rubber Donald Duck car that he loved.......wonder what happened to that?
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