A Year of Gratitude - My hero, my father

Today would have been my dad's 94th birthday.

Happy Birthday Daddy,

I hope you, Mom, Frank and Betty (Terry's beloved parents)

are all having "Coke" (Coca-Cola) parties to celebrate.

I miss you so much, today and every day.

4 1/2 years in the Pacific Squadron until WWII was over.

The day he finally came home, there were two planes filled with soldiers going home, finally.

Dad was to be on the first plane, but for whatever reason, it was full when he went

to get on, so he had to get on the second.  All his buddies of 4 1/2 years were on that first plane.

The first plane took off and almost immediately crashed, killing everyone aboard.

From to top to bottom,

Mom, me and dad probably 1947

1948 me and dad in my sandbox

me and dad Asbury Park, NJ about 1951 or 52

Dad and me camping at Rogers Rock, NY (mom took our picture)

Because these pictures are old, enlarged does not work well, distorts a grainy picture even worse.

1970, my first marriage.

I so loved this picture and show it because it was part of my life and when I married

my beloved Terry in 1994, dad was ill and could come come to Florida,

so my three children had the honor of giving their mom "away".

1982 with my three children.

Mom and Dad were beloved Nannie and Papa, always.

Dad and Bobby, late 80's

same day as above, Fort Lauderdale, FL

where we lived then.

Christmas 1994, took Terry "home" to meet my parents

we took Bobby only as his sisters were working during vacation.

1999 Mom and Dad's wonderful back porch

with Terry.

There is a picture in my heart that I can only describe as there was never

an actual picture taken at the time.

March 2000 found dad very ill in the hospital in Albany, NY

Terry and I went home to see him

If you follow my blog you know I lost my hearing in 1986 and that in 1999 (4 months

after the above picture was taken) I was implanted with the cochlear implant

giving me a the "miracle" of hearing speech/sounds again.

As I sat by my dad's bedside that day in March, 2000, all I wanted was my

dad to wake up so I could tell him I loved him.

A few minutes later, he did open his eyes, blink, then gave me such a beautiful smile

when he realize I was home and there.

(glad this is not writing on paper, tears are streaming down my cheeks as I type)

Dad looked at me, smiled and then said,

"I love you, I love you, I love you"

I could hear my father's voice crystal clear after 13 years of not being able to.

Father's Day, June 2000, we called the hospital and a "angel" nurse at the desk

ran down to dad's room, helf the phone up so he dad could hear and talk to me.

I told my dad he was my hero and again, even through the phone I heard dad's voice.

It would be the last time as he passed away June 28. 2000

My son asked to do the eulogy for his grandfather.

This poem was part of his eulogy:

THAT MAN IS A SUCCESS

who has lived well,

laughed often and loved much;

who has gained the respect

of intelligent men

and the love of children;

who has filled his niche

and accomplished his tast;

who leaves the world

better than he found it,

whether by an improved poppy,

a perfect poem

or a rescued soul;

who never lacked appreciation

of earth's beauty

or failed to express it;

who looked for the best in others

and gave the best he had.

My son took the words from the poem hanging in my parents bedroom

because it was everything he wanted to say.

What he did not know until he showed me his eulogy and asked if it was ok

was that I had given my father that poem years before on his birthday.

If my son had not asked to do the eulogy, I was going to repeat that poem myself

because those words describe the man I lovingly called,

My dad!

Thank you dad because by your life you taught me how to love.

Love you dad, always.

 

From my heart to yours, may your day be blessed

Lynn