Memories...

Through the course of a year there are so many times when I stop and reflect on my childhood...today my memory stops to reflect on a great man...a man who gave me life...love...security...independence...life skills. This man was my dear daddy and today would have been his 69th birthday...sadly he died at the very young age of 56 on July 15, 1996.

I appreciate just how lucky I was to have a dad who loved me. He taught me the essentials of car maintenance and forced me to learn to drive "Big Blue" (the Suburban), so that I would be comfortable in any vehicle. He was a big man with a big voice and could make me quiver in a moment...but he also gave wonderful hugs and had a huge heart. My daddy is where I got my love of critters...which I passed down to my children. He was my strong arm on my wedding day...and soft hand on his grand baby's birthday.

A very proud granddaddy who never got the opportunity to take his little "Andy" (a name only he used) fishing, or to the Dairy Queen to get ice cream. Sadly, he never got to meet his sweet little granddaughter, but I'm sure he'd think she was a princess!

Yes...today I reflect on a great man...a very much loved and missed one...Happy Birthday Day Daddy!

This photo was taken May 2, 1996...the day before the birth of my Andrew.