Above all else, my father loved his family.
Almost as much as us, he loved Father's Day. He loved his birthday. He loved Christmas. He loved being with those of us who adored him, who hung on his words, who got the hugest charge out of him.
He loved, quite frankly, being the center of attention...or being so very happy for one of us that his cup, as he'd say, runneth over. Such was the case in this, my favorite picture of him, taken at my brother Ben's wedding.
Dad's last Father's Day was in 2012, which my sister Susan and I are celebrating with him here. Our sweet Daddy died 46 days later.
Not a day (or even half-day) goes by that I don't miss him; don't hear him jingling coins in his pocket, don't hear him saying "I love you" (which he did all the time) or quoting poetry (which he also did all the time).
He's still the first person I want to tell so much to, or to ask about something. Nobody told a story like Dad, and though I probably heard most of them about a million times, I'd give anything to hear even one of them one more time.
Through the years, I've written a lot about him. He was just so...quotable. Endearing. Engaging. Loving.
So perhaps as a gift to him, here are a few of my favorite essays I've written about him on this, my seventh Father's Day without my dad (a.k.a. the All American Boy, Mr. Wonderful, Dadaw, the Grand Poopaw).
Happy Father's Day, Daddy.
On his ah...determination (OK, stubbornness):
https://aglassoflemonade.blogspot.com/2010/03/thinking-twice.html
On living life joyfully
https://www.dallasnews.com/life/better-living/2016/12/30/find-moments-joy-open-new-year-possibility
On oatmeal and hospital visits:
https://aglassoflemonade.blogspot.com/2012/02/appreciating-dad.html
On his optimistic attitude, even while in pain
https://aglassoflemonade.blogspot.com/2010/10/taking-away-pain.html
Six days after he died:
https://aglassoflemonade.blogspot.com/2012/07/searching-in-sun.html
Our first Thanksgiving without him:
https://aglassoflemonade.blogspot.com/2012/11/reaching-for-dad-in-thanksgiving-sky.html
After he'd been gone a year:
https://aglassoflemonade.blogspot.com/2013/07/circling-back-dancing-however-clumsily.html
On his connection to Miss Inez the organ player and Tennessee Waltz:
https://aglassoflemonade.blogspot.com/2014/12/tennessee-waltzing.html
On why I missed him especially at the 50-year anniversary of the JFK assassination:
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/jfk/2018/11/20/moment-1963-changed-fathers-life-familys-life-world
After he'd been gone five years
https://www.dallasnews.com/life/better-living/2017/08/01/five-years-dad-died-imlifted-love-reminders-matters
If your dad still shares this sweet earth with you, give him an extra hug today. If he's gone, may you revel in the relationship you had, and hear his laughter all over again.
