Sunday, June 21, 2015

Happy Father's Day!

I am very fortunate to have a very special relationship with my father. Words cannot express how grateful I am for him. But I will certainly do my best.

 

 
My father has always been there for me growing up. He taught me how to throw a baseball. He introduced me to my love of science fiction and my dislike for horror genre.
Dad showed me how to properly maintain my car. Not only can I change the oil and the tire, I can replace the thermostat, alternator, and flush the radiator. I can diagnose several problems now and talk intelligently to the mechanic. That alone has saved me thousands of dollars.
 
 
This is one of my favorite photos of my parents. This was of their wedding day. Two images had merged into one. My parents showed me how to love. I have a happy and healthy marriage after watching him and Mom for the 18 years I had before Mom passed away in 2000. For a long time, he had a picture of her by his bed and would tell her goodnight and he loved her. He showed me what it's like to truly love someone more than anything. I always saw her reflected in his eyes.
 

 He taught me to be colorblind, to treat others how I wanted to be treated. It's okay that people have other beliefs than I do. We're all the same in the eyes of God. Someone's race, religion, or sexual orientation has no barring on my personal life, so why worry about it? Why should that be a deciding factor in how they are received? We're all humans. We should treat each other accordingly.


 
I loved watching movies with Dad. From horrible sci-fi B-movies to Indiana Jones to Cinderella. He always instilled a sense of fun and adventure in everything. Dad also showed me how to be tough. We discovered about a year or so ago that we both have very similar stories about when we broke our noses. I still don't regret never having my nose reset.


And this is just one of my favorite photos with my brother Wayne. We like to duplicate this every Disney trip.


I need to get this in a frame. We did this at Disney in a little kiosk at Pop Century hotel. I really love it. Dad is one of my best friends. He is someone I can tell anything to. I love our long talks about everything and nothing.



My wedding day. This was one of the best pictures taken, in my opinion. Daddy is walking me down the aisle and looking like he can barely keep from crying. I may be married now, and definitely not so little, but I will always be your baby girl. You are the greatest man I've ever known. I hope I can be one-tenth the person you are. Always kind, always putting your family first. Determined, hard working, strong ethics and unshakable faith. I love you, Daddy. Today, tomorrow, and forever.

Happy Father's Day.