Happy Father's Day to all Daddy's and Grandpa's. I hope you are given a little extra Love today.
Daddy's are special and mine was extra special to me. He was quiet and always gentle with me but he could be feisty if pushed too far.
I can still see my Daddy sitting on the end of the couch, his spot, most times with both feet pulled up under his chin. Daddy never tied his shoes when he got up he would just step in his shoes and off he'd go. I asked him once, "Daddy why don't you tie your shoes". He said it just took too long. Guess that's right. I wonder what Daddy would have thought of the Velcro on my shoes now.
In my mind I can see Daddy in the garden behind the house working. Sometimes plowing with Ol' Dixie and sometimes harvesting what he grew. Daddy would hitch up Ol' Dixie and off he'd go up and down in the two acre plot plowing it deep and bringing up all the good moist rich dirt. Then he laid off the rows all neat and straight. It was quiet a production and I was there all the way. Took every step my Daddy and Ol' Dixie took. Ol' Dixie was a gentle horse and I loved her. Daddy would sometimes lift me up to sit on her even though I was too young to learn to ride I thought I was really in high cotton up on that horse.
Daddy worked hard to provide for us. We never had quiet enough and even though I know now that hurt him at the time we never knew we had less.
When I was very young Daddy worked in the coal mines in Oklahoma and was gone all week. I missed my Daddy a lot and was so happy to see him when he came home on Friday night.
Daddy never wanted to see us hurt in any way and babied me something awful. I loved it. On the other hand he taught me to be tough, to not take a lot of "Stuff", off of anyone. He told me many times, "Always laugh honey then you won't have to cry". Daddy wanted me to be tough all right but you should of seen him one day when I fainted. Daddy turned white as a sheet and was across the room fast enough to catch me before I fell. I was a grown woman at the time. Daddy never stopped trying to protect me.
I saw tears in Daddies eyes many times because I was hurt in some way. He never spanked me but once that I remember and that was when I stole something. I was only about 6 or 7. I've never forgotten that. It upset me so bad to have My Daddy spank me.
Daddy was my protector, friend, ally, and to me the larger than life hero in my life. I miss my Daddy even more than ever now that I am older. I'm homesick in a big way.
Don't miss a chance to hug and tell your Daddy how much you love him because things can change in a heartbeat and you will wish you had. I'm sure I never said it enough and I regret that. I Love And Miss You Daddy.
