Today is Dad’s 81st birthday. I have a new, blogging friend who recently lost her dad. My heart and thoughts go out to her and her family during this time of great loss. Sharing thoughts with her has refreshed the feelings I have for my dad and emphasized his importance in my life. He is partially responsible for forming the person I am today. He is precious and dear to me. He’s the dad God gave me. Sometimes I think my dad got the short end of that deal. Over the years our relationship has had some pretty rocky moments. Some of those rocky moments stretched into years, because I was a rebellious young person. I’m thankful we’ve resolved those times and share a mutual love, and I hope, respect for each other.
As I reflect over our years together I have memories of Dad when he was bigger than life. There was nothing he couldn’t do. I don’t remember him failing at anything…failure wasn’t an option. If something didn’t work, he worked until it did.
He was not an easy man to know. Like so many men do, he guarded his inner-most self from those around him. Dad was and is a well-educated, serious thinker. His sense of humor is unusual, and laughter is not common to him, but when something really hits his funny bone he laughs a contagious, whole-body laugh that causes him to jiggle like jello. That laughter is one of my favorite memories of my dad. If it were not so rare, I don’t think I’d appreciate it so much.
Dad’s body has grown old, and he is frail much to his disappointment. His mind is still sharp. Facing mortality has not been easy for him. We face the same heartache my new, blogging friend is living right now. His days to come on this earth are far less now than they have been. The day of his departure will be a somber and difficult one…one I am not ready to face, but I believe I will see him again, and that softens the sting of death.
This day is a day of celebration. Dad is 81! I’m glad he’s my dad.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!
Until next time…
Make sure your relationships are in good order. We have no guarantee of tomorrow.
Hi Judy, hope your dad has a great day…will you be able to see him? It is interesting how much larger than life they seemed to us isn’t it? And the way they were so good at things..as you say they just kept at it …
Two of my favourite films are On moonlight Bay with Doris Day and Gordon MacRae I think it was but the father in those films was just wonderful ….his battles with Wesley were legendary!
Hope your day is enjoyable in every way.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR DAD
Happy birthday to your dad, sweetie (((hugs)))
You know just about where my “dad” feelings are, so nuff said on that one
love ya….
Happy Birthday to your Dad! Your tribute is wonderful.
Oh Judy,What a debonaire dad you have. Happy Be-lated birthday to him.
Seeing his picture makes me think of my only living grandfather. He is 82. And last year my Aunt took away his keys…so he is no longer driving. He still has his wits about him though and is a tough cookie. He has had a few health scares this past year. I was born on his wedding anniversary. He always calls me his ‘gift’. And he loves it that I look exactly like his only daughter. My aunt.
I hate it that I live 650 miles from him.
I have a VERY rocky relationship with my dad. Matter of fact I call him my sperm donor dad. That is how bad it is. I haven’t spoke with my dad in over 6 years. Oddly, enough my grandfather that is living is my dads dad. I talk to grandpa even more than my own dad.
Hopefully my dads role as father and grandfather and my role as daughter will change….just don’t know when.
I think I am going to go and phone my grandfather right now.
Thanks for this post Judy!
Belated birthday wishes to your dad
my dad was 74 on the 24th August