Happy Father's Day!

[GGT]

Hope all the dads here have a nice weekend with their kids.

(And adult 'kids' can call their dads or send a card. It's really not just a Hallmark holiday. )

[Ominous Gamer]

I can't call my dad

but seriously, this Father's Day is going to start out pretty sweet. I found my gifts from the kids the other day. They used Target's BOGO to get me Duke Nukem Forver and Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. Brotherhood was slightly Brent's idea, but Brandy only picked up Duke Nukem because of my Twitter chatter over it. She doesn't have twitter, but my account displays on a desktop gadget (finally finding a good use for twitter!).

Plus Brandy is covering for my mom's church job on Sundays, and she is taking the kids with her, so I get at least the morning all to myself to play Duke before Brandy catches on to what she actually bought me

[GGT]

I can't call my dad

Yeah, me either. Still, it's a good time to remember our dads, and (hopefully) smile and feel that sentimental heart string.

but seriously, this Father's Day is going to start out pretty sweet.

One of these days, Scarlett may bring you breakfast in bed, at 5am, wearing more syrup than the waffles, and giving you a sweet sloppy kiss. And you'll share the pics with us.

[GGT]

My dad was so... special. I didn't realize it at the time of my youth, of course, but that's usually how these things go. We had plenty of struggles over the years, sometimes pulling together and sometimes pulling apart. Most of all, he was loving, kind, patient, understanding, tolerant, forgiving. He never shouted or yelled or used "force" of any kind.

He was a gentle man with a comforting energy. I think he's the most important person who taught me what Love meant, in its many forms.

We have some ancient reel-to-reel audio recordings, when he had his three daughters on his lap reading stories. One young early reader, one toddler with some ADHD issues, one still in diapers with early verbal skills. It's hysterically funny but also so sweet. Hearing how he managed three girls at the same time, different ages with different needs, somehow managing to keep us all engaged without chaos ensuing. He had a real gift that way.

I still miss my dad, and he's been gone for over 30 years. I wish my kids could have known him, spent time with him, had memories of him instead of just pictures and stories from other people. My dad would have loved his grandsons, loved every year and milestone, and loved every stage of being their grampa.

[oldmunchkin]

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads here!

Like both of you, I can't call or go see my Dad! But, it will be a good day to think about him! The Kid, Mommymunchkin and I got together tonight and played Scrabble. All thru the game, one of us would start a "Dad" story, meaning one game lasted almost two hours!

Dad was a very quiet man who loved Mom, The Kid, and I with all his heart! He was a wonderful Father to me. He rarely got mad, actually, he rarely got even irritated, until after his heart surgery in 2001. That kind of changed his personality. Even then, he was so gentle and sweet! In my entire lifetime, I don't ever recall anyone who didn't like him!

He never raised his voice in anger. He wasn't into physical punishment for something I did wrong, either. I remember the one and only time he spanked me! I was about 6 and had been told NOT to ask Gramma Helen (close neighbor) for any cookies while we were visiting her and Grandpa Joe! I did it anyway, and was so sure I had gotten away with it! Then we got home, and he turned me over his knee and swatted my butt about 3 times. My feelings were hurt more than my backside! Mom told me tonight that after he spanked me, he felt so bad that he made a special trip to town to take me for an ice cream cone, the next day! I don't really remember that part, but I know that was the only time he ever swatted me!

When he did get upset or mad, he just got quieter! Seriously, I can remember him getting mad at me when I was 15. I didn't go home with him from the fair, and didn't get a ride with a neighbor as he had told me to do. I wanted to stay in town like all my friends did! The next day was the horse show. I had two horses in it, one well broke and docile, and one that was only partly broke and very feisty! I can still quote him, word for word, from that day. He said, "Feed your sheep." And, after I won a champion ribbon with the gentler horse he said, "I'm proud of you!" He handed me some money about noon and said, "Here's your lunch money." Then, after I won a reserve champion ribbon on the green broke horse, he said, "You have done a great job with Charley." That is all he said to me in a 24 hour period!

The day I told him I was pregnant, I think it almost broke his heart, since I wasn't married! He forgot all that the day The Kid was born! I don't think I have ever seen a prouder person than he was with being a Grandpa! (Or, DadDad, as The Kid called him when he started to talk, and later PaPa!) He loved my son so very much! And he was so proud of him! He told me once that all he wanted was to live long enough to see my son graduate high school! He got that wish! He was so proud of that achievement! He hadn't graduated and neither did I, so for Dad, it was an incredible "high"!

He was a terrific role model to my son! He spent a lot of time trying to help make up for there not being a father in the picture! He enjoyed watching my son learn new things and got The Kid to help him with a lot of his odd jobs around town. He taught my son a good work ethic, good manners, and how to be a loving, caring man in this world!

Dad didn't say "I love you" very often, but I always knew he loved me! So did The Kid! He and Mom had a special relationship that made sure The Kid learned how to treat a lady! When we talk about him now, a lot of times it's because something has happened that makes one of us stop and think about how he handled similar things in his life!

I love you, Daddy!