My Dad's birthday is February 23, so this is the month that I think of Daddy. He an Mom were married on February 2, 1961. It was a lovely ceremony, I thought, and he was a Great Man. Many people don't really know what that means, Great Man. It doesn't mean he was saintly, but he lived greatly. He was shy, but fought that with bravado. While most people ask "Why?" he always shouted, "Why not?!" Many times he should have stopped and considered things more cautiously. Unfortunately, when anyone challenged his decision making, he could be a bully. He never wanted to second guess himself. And, he always said that our family was not a democracy, but a dictatorship. He was hard to love.
He was harsh to the women our family, his wife and daughters, but it made us strong. It reminds me of the Johnny Cash song, " A Boy Named Sue". He taught me through reverse psychology. He gave some poor moral examples which has made me eschew so many of his choices. I can proudly say I have never been arrested. He would say that I have no sense of adventure. While I have been furiously angry with him, I loved him very much, and I miss him everyday, but mostly in February.
I can see him now with his, "Who me ?" expression. And while he wasn't the best father, he was such a good grandfather. Proof that we learn through-out our lives, "Hey Dad, you can teach an old dog new tricks"(wink) He taught my son how to write his name, in the snow. He taught him how to use a screwdriver and a bottle opener. He taught my daughter that covering him with stuffed animals would put him to sleep, and that a 6'1" 300lb man with a beard and stern expression could be coaxed into a tea party and playing with Barbie dolls.
He was larger than life which has made it hard to live without him. So, Here's to my Dad. I love you and miss you....
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