Six Years Ago Today

Daddy & Willie the Mean Cat

Six years ago today my father passed away, so today is a sad day for me. I miss him, but I know that I will see him again one day so that gives me great comfort. My father had Parkinson's Disease and his final years were not very pleasant. The last two years of his life he was totally bed ridden, completely dependant on others for his every need. In the end, he couldn't even speak, but his mind was always clear and he could convey a message to you with smile, a squeeze of the hand and through a look in his eyes.

The picture above is of he and my mom in Gatlinburg at my wedding to Terry in October of 1999. They were married 58 years when he passed away. My Mom met him at a streetcar stop in downtown Birmingham. He and Bobby Pair asked for directions from my Mom and her friend Bunny. Then they proceeded to go around the block and come back to the streetcar stop and take the streetcar that my Mom and Bunny were taking. Since my Dad was stationed at Anniston he and my Mom became "Pen Pals" and the rest is history. By the way, Bunny and Bobby married too.

My parents marriage worked because God was always first, then each other and then us children, always!!!!!! I think that now a lot of marriages don't work out, even in christian homes because when it gets tough, we just decide to quit and move on instead of putting God first and then each other and then the children. 58 years took work on many occasions and I can tell you from experience that they didn't always agree on things to do about us kids, but in the end, Daddy was the head of the household and Mom differed to him and God worked it all out to his glory. I often wonder if he was disappointed in us kids as each one's first marriage ended in divorce. He lead by example, but we didn't chose to follow. That is something that I will always regret.

My father never met a stranger! He always had a smile on his face and boy did he love his grandchildren! He was just as comfortable taking my brother's son Daniel bowling as he was taking my daughter Jessica or my niece Heather shopping for clothes. Being a single parent for so long while Jessica was little (from the time she was 5 until she was 18) he also became more than a Grandfather to Jessica. He was at every football game when she cheered in little league, every dance recital, every colorguard competition and even Drum Corp Competitions when she was in college. They had a very special relationship and I know that Jessica misses him alot. When Jessica was here a couple of weeks ago she and I both noticed how Autumn props her leg up like her Great Grandaddy Chuck, when she was sitting in her stroller. It made us both smile!

My father also had a way with animals, maybe being raised on a farm in Pennsylvania had something to do with that, I don't know. If we got a dog or a cat he when I was growing up, he always became that animals favorite, no matter what. It would make my Mom so mad!!! She would get an animal and feed it and baby it and it would alway choose my Dad. The picture above is of my Dad and their Cat Willie (the meanest cat every!!!!) It wouldn't have anything to do with anyone but my father and with him he was a sweetheart.

So today, I will be a little sad because I miss him, but I will smile as I remember vacations, late night talks, setting quietly listening to music together, silly arguments and all of the love that we shared. But most of all I will smile because I know that I will see him again in the most glorious place of all and in the presence our Lord and Saviour Jesus!!!!

"I Love You Daddy!!!