I love you Daddy!!!!

As many of you know, my Dad passed away on April 2^nd of this year. I have been meaning to do a post in celebration of him, his birthday (May 1^st) and Father’s Day, but just haven’t had a chance yet and I figure hey—Fourth of July is a holiday too right?

These last few months have been pretty difficult to say the least. You never quite realize how much you will miss someone until they are taken from you. My dad knew how much my brother and I loved him and we felt his love for us…and even with the knowledge we have about this life not being the end of ANYTHING and the opportunity we have to have our families continue far beyond the grave it is still tough. Although I didn’t see my dad nearly as much as I would have liked, I am SO grateful that I have been in Arizona for the last two years (WOW has it been that long?) and have gotten a chance to spend more time with him. As a commemoration to my daddy, here are some of my favorite memories and traits:

1. I have never had any doubt about my dad’s absolutely unconditional love for me. And he was always so proud of both his kids for whatever silly things we did. I remember when I was in high school I was playing at a piano recital and my dad came and sat in the back by himself and was just sitting there crying (and I definitely didn’t see him cry often if ever) because he was so proud of my accomplishment. I mean to play Memory from cats…it’s really not that tough of a song and yet he was so proud.

2. My dad always sacrificed for his family. For as long as I can remember my dad loved to play pool and always wanted a table of his own. However, our family never had the money or space to get one. He always made sure we had what we needed first-whether it was braces, or going on trips as a family, or our first cars (and fixing them…a lot). My dad finally got his pool table after my parents got divorced and after awhile he couldn’t even use it that often because of health problems. I will always be grateful for the sacrifices he made for us.

3. My dad was really smart. I was incredibly surprised to know that he never finished college because he was seriously one of those people who just knew EVERYTHING. I remember thinking that my mom was the go-getter, overachieving, good grades smart type (like me), and my dad was the type that was probably actually smarter but just didn’t have to try as hard. Last year my dad still remembered Russian he learned in high school. He loved books and loved to learn about anything. As I became really obsessed with politics I loved to get into conversations (or even lets call them arguments..) with my dad. He always knew what was going on in the world and had lots of opinions. When I went through his house after he passed away I was absolutely amazed at the records and papers and training materials and books he kept over the years. I could tell that this was someone that really enjoyed learning for the sake of learning and I hope someday I can be even a little bit like that.

4. My dad had a FANTASTIC sense of humor. His mom used to call him a tease and he totally was. Even in tough situations he would always joke around or find some way to poke fun. And he was totally fun. My dad used to take us to dairy queen after school when we were little and hardly ever got to eat sweets. And when we went to Utah and he sent my mom her powdered milk she couldn’t get in Arizona he would send candy with it. He always wanted to stop along the way when we went on road trips and enjoy what everything had to offer. Over the last few years he decided he had no idea what we really wanted for Christmas so money was the best way to go—BUT he always included ridiculous silly gifts along with the cash and I loved it!!! I got a furby, one of those singing wall fish, a samurai monkey that played kung fu fighting, a dolphin light, and most recently he gave me a Winnie the Pooh clock and cory a robot bank that talks….those are the gifts I will probably keep forever and just look at them and smile and know what a silly goofball my dad was.

5. My dad was a GENIUS at fixing stuff. And I certainly knew how to break things. When I was like 10 or so we went to Sea World and I bought a dolphin snow globe…and of course broke it in the airport. When we got home, he glued the glass back together. Sometime as a teenager, I managed to bust the spoiler on my dodge neon and he put it back together…when I did it again he fastened it so well I don’t think it will EVER come off. I can’t even count how many times he rescued me when I locked my keys in my car. Or fixed my car, printing up guides about proper maintenance and schedules just hoping I would somehow be interested and do what I needed to do to keep my car in order…oops….He reattached the side mirror on TWO different cars (well one reattach one replace). He replaced the bumper. After coming home to move to DC I surrendered my beloved dodge neon to him with peeling paint, a busted ac, and a driver side door that wouldn’t open—he fixed it all and the car runs perfectly to this day, four years later…..The Saturday before he passed away my dad was charging Cory and I’s air conditioners. Even when he died we’re pretty sure he was working on his water heater. It is ridiculous how much practical sense and ability my dad had. I mean WHO can do that stuff??? I hope some of his talents end up with my kids (cuz they certainly skipped me...).