Dad

A while back, I read that Jenna Bush had chosen Joe Cocker's You Are So Beautiful as her father/daughter wedding dance.  My father and I also danced to this song at my wedding, but I didn't choose it, he did, when I was just a baby.  Since then it has always been our song.  He and my sister have one, too.

As we stood at the back of the church that day, getting ready to walk down the aisle, Dad turned to me and whispered, "I thought of this moment the day you were born."

He's always saying things like that.  Really, he is.

My father has been surrounded by women for over thirty years.  Try suggesting to him that it must have been a disappointment having two daughters rather than a son.  Try telling him that he must be so relieved now that he has a grandson, finally getting a boy in the family.  Go on, do it.  (Just to warn you, he's going to think you're an asshole.)

Whether I realize it or not, I compare every man I meet to my father.  Sometimes it alarms me how much we're alike.  We are both sentimental, almost to our detriment.  We feel a strong connection with animals.  He inspired my love of nature.  He is sensitive, artistic, and prone to worrying too much about the people he loves.  I have been known to do the same.  I suspect at our cores we both just want to be loved.

My father is a perpetual reader.  He's a dog person, a Guinness drinker, a history connoisseur.  He hangs bird houses, he recycles.  If for some reason he is forced to cut down a tree, he'll always plant a new one in its place.  He is affectionate, thoughtful, bitingly witty and often times poetic.  He is also the handiest person I know.  He'll install a toilet or a sink, design and build a deck, landscape the lawn; he doesn't pay people to do what he knows he can do himself, and probably faster and better.  He introduced me to the writings of Henry David Thoreau, built me my very own playhouse complete with windows and flower boxes, and sends me a Valentine every year. 

For as far back as I can possibly remember, each day I have known that he loves me.  And I adore the guy.  Being the recipient of his love has provided me with a strength that half the time I don't even realize is there.   

Happy Father's Day, Daddy. 

Love,

Your Human Fly xoxo

Comments

[Daddy]

As your Dad, I can completely see where you're coming from, because you've allowed me to look in the mirror of life, when I've never taken the time to do so. It's funny to think that all of the things that you've mentioned; I've always thought of as personal quirks, even faults.....but now I know what they mean when they say you've had a good life when you know you've made a difference in the life of a child. Seeing your daughters grow into vital, intelligent, successful, and caring adults is not only gratifying, but is the reason the good Lord put each of us on this earth. I love you.

[Jenn McLellan-Raskow]

What a beautiful posting...you are so lucky to have such a loving and caring father....enjoy every minute and live life to the fullest....thank you for letting me apart of you experience.
Happy Father's Day!

[Jenn McLellan-Raskow]

What a beautiful posting...you are so lucky to have such a loving and caring father....enjoy every minute and live life to the fullest....thank you for letting me apart of you experience.
Happy Father's Day!

[Karen]

I'm trying so hard not to cry! I think you both have such a wonderful relationship. I love my "recital Dad". That's what I like to call your dad seeing that my dad could never come to see them and you parents were so supportive of me as well.
I talked to my father yesterday and I was thinking about how our fathers would probably be great friends. My dad has moved on to sculpting now and he's making his ouwn chess set out of the Civil War. Abraham Licoln is the king and all the pawns are Confederate and Yankee soldiers. And the board is a map of one of the battle fields. He's making it all from scratch. It made me think of your dad and how he's a Civil War history buff too. I know some people would think it's weird but you understand how endearing it is and how it just makes our fathers that much more special! :0)

[The Odd Broad]

Karen, I agree our Dads would be friends -they're both Sagittarius history buffs!

XOXO

[Sister]

That was nice...all I got Dad was a gift certificate!