Happy Birthday Dad

Today, is my blue-eyed Dad’s birthday. He comes around here every once in a while. He has a gift for words, as evidenced by his toast, here and this post here. Most of my great memories of my Dad center around the times he had the courage to say the thing that I needed to hear, but didn’t want to hear. When I was about 8 years old, I was sick in bed, and I just wouldn’t snap out of it. I think, at that point, I was just relishing in the moment of not having to go to school, laying in bed, etc. He came to my side, and said, “You know, as a woman, you’re going to have to face a lot greater pain than this, so you better get yourself better and get used to this.” Oh, how right he was.

Once, when I was in labor for this guy, 72 hours of it, I called my Dad, just because I needed to hear his voice. I said Dad, they think that maybe I’m scared, and that’s why I’m not delivering the baby. He said, “Well, that’s because you probably are scared.” I can’t tell you what a revelation it was to hear those words.

When, Pumpkin Lunar Baby was born, so close to his own birthday, my Dad drove the 5+ hours to visit him, and spent several hours alone with me and baby in the dreary hospital. It was a great memory.

So, Happy Birthday Dad. Can’t wait to see you at the lake.