My Dad

With Father's Day fast approaching, I have been thinking about my father a lot lately, and how much I miss him.

Please enjoy this post I wrote last year:

My Dad was 67 years old when he died of undetected prostate cancer.  I found out the news of his illness in May of 1996 and flew across country for the Memorial Day weekend in order to spend time with him. I flew back over the 4th of July holiday, with then my boyfriend of six months, Rick. Three weeks later, Rick accompanied again on a flight back to the Monterey Bay, this time for my father's funeral.  It was shocking, tragic and sobering to watch the sudden demise of my father's health. Living 3,000 miles away, I felt so helpless, so guilty, and so troubled.  It was a difficult time in my life, and I am so glad I had Rick in my life to help me through it all.  

However, I would rather not talk about how my Dad died, or how I reacted to his death, but about how he lived... 

My Dad was an artist.  His artwork could be seen on backdrops for local theatre productions, on posters for local events, on canvases depicting scenes from Monterey County, California and in his collection of carefully crafted pottery. 

My Dad was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous.   Through AA, my father found his mission of helping others and himself in the process. Many times, I remember him talking on the phone and going out in the middle of the night to help a friend resist the temptation of that first drink. 

He also loved the environment and taught us girls to appreciate it too . He especially enjoying bird watching, and shared that love with others as a docent at Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Habitat.

My father was involved in so many things that it is impossible list them all. Suffice it to say, he gave my sister and me a love of learning, and appreciation of the arts and nature.

Dad  was  a gentle and kind father.  He was a loyal husband, he stood by my mother through her 9 1/2 years battle with cancer.  Although, he was only 49 years old when she died, he never remarried and still maintained a love for life. He had an impish sense of humor, and enjoyed a good  joke. Dad LOVED Christmas, he made it magical with his artful home decorations, and special family traditions.     

Happy Father's Day Daddy. 

I wish my girls could meet their "Opa".

I hope I can keep you alive in their hearts

by the stories I tell them.

 

Comments

[Bozena]

I'm tearing,Mary. What a special person he was.Great memmories.
Happy Father's Day to him!

[Sharon O]

That is a wonderful tribute to a very special man in your life. Thank you for sharing him with us.

[Julie @ The Corner With A View]

Mary! Lovely tribute for your father. My grandmother died when my father was 18 years old, and she is still very much alive in all our hearts. All of us girls strive to be a woman like our Grandma Jean, and my father's telling us stories, scolding us with "If your grandmother Jean were here, she'd..." and showing us her love by returning it to us. I am sure you can do the same for your girls. :)

[Stephanie]

I loved your dad! He was a great man with a wonderful sense of humor. He always made me laugh!!!

[Headless Mom]

He sounds like such a sweet man.

[Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith]

Thanks Steph,
He was a funny man.