My father was not what I would call father. He was Daddy. Always! Until the day he died…very suddenly, an extremely long-way from home. It was a heart attack. Leaving Momma stranded way down south.
Now that is NOT something he would have chosen to do. Leave Momma alone to deal with the biggest disaster of her life, but sometimes we don’t get to choose. He was 72 when he died.
(Thankfully they were visiting our son and then daughter-in-law; so Momma really wasn’t without help.)
It’s been years now (eighteen to be exact), still I feel him hovering over me…just over my shoulder, I catch a glimpse of him now and again, and once felt his hand on my back.
I often wonder what his life would have been like if his Daddy hadn’t died very young. (Pete died in 1936—Daddy was just nine (going on ten) years old at the time of his Dad’s death)
Grandma remarried and lived a very long and happy life with her second husband. He brought, into their union three sons; his wife died right after the birth of the youngest boy.
Grandma brought Daddy.
Through the years the ‘family’ photos show the struggle of my Dad’s ‘never feeling like he belonged’.
I I think he never really felt like he ‘fit’ until he met and married Momma. Who came with her all her southern born aunts and uncles. It was at this time he learned to hug and kiss and be swallowed up into a warm, gregarious, fun, outgoing family.
For which I am eternally grateful!
I will always long for them, Momma died just months after Daddy…she missed him too much.
But one thing I know…he really is always with me…I can feel him there—-just beyond my shoulder.
It is a blessing I cherish!
From my world to your heart,
Linda
That brought tears to my eyes
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We were lucky, you and I!
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How lovely that your father and mother were so bonded that she couldn’t do without him. It reminds me of a beautiful old English epitaph about a couple where the husband died first and the wife followed soon after:
‘He went before.
She for a little tried
To live without him,
Liked it not, and died’.
My Pa is many, many thousands of miles away, and at 94 is too deaf now to make phone calls a pleasure, but we write, and both enjoy having a letter to read and re-read. I shall be thinking of him…
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I’m so glad you still have your Pa. Just knowing they are still here on the tangible earth is a blessing!
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What a beautiful tribute to your father — and mother.
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Happy Father’s Day, George!!
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Lovely post…happy daddy’s day
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You gave me a huge smile!
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I call mine Pop, or Dad, now that I’m closer to 50 than 40! He had a stroke the day before Memorial Day and didn’t want to worry me so only told me last weekend. He lives in N Arkansas now, and is spending the night tonight in Little Rock so he can see a specialist tomorrow. He’ll be 78 next month. Wish I lived closer than 4,000 miles away.
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OH! I can understand the worry!
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Loved your memories of you parents. I, often, feel my Dad is with me, too, and approving of what I do. Special days bring back many memories.
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It’s a huge warm blessing, isn’t it.
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What a sweet tribute to your dad!
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He was very special to me, as I know yours, is to you!
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Beautiful post. Family is hard. I’m glad he made a happy life.
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Me too! And now he gets to be with his Dad again.
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Very moving tribute to your father. I rarely have done a father’s day post. They are very hard for me. You are so fortunate to have such fond memories.
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I am. I don’t think my Dad’s were very fond…he probably could match you word for word. Which is sad for both of you.
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Beautiful LInda…I’ve been thinking of my father too, not realising that it’s Fathers day !
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They are with us…I know for a fact!
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J & D > It’s a privlege for us that you share your family story and photos with us, Linda.
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Aw…thank you so much!
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Linda, I so enjoyed the old photos of your handsome father! It is evident that he was loved very much by you and your Mother:)
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Old photos are so much fun. Even the blurry faded 70’s photos!
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Beautiful .. much love
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Yes. Much love.
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