Yesterday was my Daddy’s birthday.  He was born on January 1, 2026

The January he was ten, his father passed away from pneumonia.

It was a horrible– bitter– melancholy time.

His mother, Francis, re-married Charles Holder. I always knew her as Grandma Holder, although, our last name was Doyle.

By the time Daddy turned 16, the world was in a huge conflict, called WWII.

Just as Daddy turned seventeen Grandma signed so Daddy could ‘go to the Navy’

Of course, there are lots of pieces of Daddy’s story I am skipping.  You do understand.

Here I am on my second Christmas —Momma, Me, and Daddy

Then by the time I was three along came Danny.

Daddy!  Sometimes it feels like your shadow is close to me. Soaking into the earth and stones…touching my shoulders, putting your arm around me, filling the sky like a torch of light.

Yesterday you would have turned 97 if you were still in earthly form.

Instead, we lost you in 1999.

But still— sometimes, when I turn quickly or feel something brush my hair, I sense you are there.

Still a part of my life and my heart.

Love you, Daddy, always.

From my heart to your world,

Linda