Remembering Dad

There’s just something about daddys and their daughters. 

When I saw Chris pick up our first baby girl all those years ago, I knew she didn’t need to say a word, he was forever smitten. Now we have 3 daughters, when they call with a problem he is ready to jump into action at a moments notice. Dads want to protect their daughters. 

Dads are like cops, they instinctively protect and serve even when we act like jerks. They are also there to correct and detain when needed. I had a fierce love for dad, as well as a healthy fear. He was the parent who played games with us and took us for bike rides. Dad understood style which is why he took me shopping for prom dresses but also was the one who told me to “March back up to your room and put on something acceptable” when teenage fashion was a little too revealing. And the words, “dad will talk to you about this!” put the fear of God in me most the time. My memories of dad are different from my brothers’ memories. So I guess, it is a daddy-daughter thing. 

In the end, I am the one who visited dad in the nursing home and eventually the hospital and I am the one mourning dad’s death. I was robbed. This stupid Rona took 10 months of dads life. I miss dad horribly. 

Dad went into the hospital on Saturday night with pneumonia in the end stage of life. After 19 years of Parkinson’s and 4 years of living in a nursing home dad was more than ready to go be with God. Dad did not have covid until he had been in the hospital for 4 days. I had to fight for the right to spend time with my dying dad and allow our daughters the opportunity to say goodbye to their Opa. I don’t regret one thing I said or did at the hospital. Aunt Delma would have been so proud of me! 

Dads service will be in the spring.

On December 26th we spent the day in Kansas City doing things dad loved. Honoring the guy who loved art, food and shopping (amongst other things)