The Way It Should Be

Once upon a time...  there was this man...

He was a kind and generous man...

Loved by many....

He knew how to laugh, relax, and take life easy at times...

He also knew how to work hard and provide for his family...

He wasn't perfect.  But he was perfect for me.

A kinder heart I've never known.

I wonder at times, why he was taken from this world so early in his life...

His sweet, gentle love is the legacy he left behind....  his quiet demeaner and giving spirit will always be remembered.   

In a day and age where kids are often led to believe that fathers do not matter much, I embrace my past and my own dad who gave me so little materialistic-wise but gave me so much more in setting an example in his kindness towards others and love for his family.

Today we celebrate Dad's.   We live in an angry and self centered age today.  I believe it is because of the lack of importance put on the role of father's in the lives of their children.  

My God says that father's are the head of the family.  Their importance is repeated in the Bible over and over again.  satan has worked diligently to prove the opposite... 

 Peace be with all father's today and may the love you give your children come back to  you one-hundred times over.  

I MISS YOU DAD!

 I was 15 and it was my first full time job, babysitting the neighbors kids.  Theirs was about 3 houses up the street from where we lived, but the houses were spaced pretty far  apart.  

When 11:30 PM rolled around, 

the little town of Eckhart was fast asleep... 

*yawn*

  ...Well, all except for the ghosts and goblins and resurrected bodies pulling clanging chains that followed me  while I dashed down Cemetery Road with haste 

to get home safely.  

One night I came out from my 8 hour shift, ready to beat the devil home, when I 'just happened' to run into Dad, who 'just happened' to be walking our German Shepherd, and he escorted me home.  

No ghosts or goblins were there that night and all I felt was calm and safe while we walked home and talked 

about our night.  

Dad must have sensed my pre-midnight fears of walking home alone, because he began showing up more and more at that exact same time.  

My gentle, quiet, hard working dad didn't need to say a word.  He didn't have to say he loved me.  

I already knew.

I MISS YOU DAD!

Party Time?

No better way to celebrate Father's Day than to spend time with Gary's family...  

Enter - Bethlehem Pennsylvania. 

We spent time at the Downs OTB with his Uncle Victor where I won over $100 on scratch off tickets.  

  

Gary's daughter Stacy and her boyfriend Vinnie met us there  and then we all went out to dinner.

After lugging our bags up two flights of narrow, filthy, steps - Hotel #1 smelled bad and looked dirty.  

 Hotel #2 was passable.  

The Casino was fun, but I'm sure glad I'm not a true blue gambler.  I'd be living in the streets.  I lost the money I won on the scratch offs and then some.  

Gary's daughter Stacy is always so thoughtful and never forgets her dad on special occasions.  I'm so glad she came from Jersey to spend the day with us!

Today before heading for home, it was brunch with Gary's mom.  After good conversation and a few good laughs, we were homeward bound.  

It's good to be home, but tomorrow we're on the road again.  Fredericksburg, Va. for a business meeting.  I'm tired.

Dear Diary,

I knew it would be ugly.  The word 'vacation' along with suitcases and a lot of belly rubs and cuddling could mean only one thing.  Mom and dad were leaving me again.   Lindsey and Rissi came to spend time with me and take me out to potty. But I was still sad. They're home now... but there's talk of them leaving me again tomorrow.  I'm torn between being sorrowful and sad or throwing a big 'ol 'my parents are away party'.  Who's in? Gracie.

Daddy's Hands

One bitter January afternoon, my mom sat warming her hands by our pot belly stove as she instructed my dad as to what he needed to pick up at the grocery store.  I was about five at the time. "Can I go?" I asked.  Dad was a quiet man, and about as easy going as you could get.  He nodded and I ran for my winter coat, hat and gloves. As dad opened the door to the blowing wind and slippery rocks that served as steps to take us to our car, I remember him taking my little gloved hand in his and telling me to be careful.  Though the ice was thick and the snow pelted hard on my face, I never felt more safe than I did with my hand in his on that blustery winter day.  

My dad was not perfect.  He drank too much on the weekends and sometimes stayed away from home just a little too long on Friday nights. 

But he had a wonderful, giving heart and I wouldn't have traded him for all the perfect dad's in the world.

He died way too young, at 53, and I miss him still today.

Me and Dad

The Bucket

Fathers Day Tribute to Dad:

Today I remember my Dad who has been gone for over thirty years. I remember the tremendous amount of love and sacrifice behind the "Bucket" ... here's my tribute:

It was around 3:40 PM I believe.... My dad would arrive home from a hard days work with what us kids referred to as "the bucket". There were six of us living at home at that time, and each one of us more than eager for our "turn" to receive what was to be left over from Dad's lunch. Half eaten minced ham sandwiches.. baked by the sun - but good just the same. It was very seldom that a part of a lunch cake didn’t find its way home.

Dad knew of our delight to find that special treat among his leftovers!

Dad’s been gone over thirty years now, and I seem to remember less and less about him as time passes on. There are, however, memories that stay in our hearts and never leave. I never really looked at Dad’s face during the “bucket exchanges” to see if he was smiling.

Now that I’m older, with kids of my own, I know in my heart that the small sacrifice Dad made every day at lunchtime could not compare to the great joy he must have felt handing over the bucket upon his return home each day. I hope my kids have grown up with special memories of simple things, as I have. Who would think that soggy sandwiches and melted lunch cakes in a tin bucket would be such a special memory! I didn’t think about it then… but now that I am older I can see the tremendous amount of love and sacrifice behind the bucket.

Dad, I miss and love you and thank you for all the sacrifices you made for us.