Yesterday was an anniversary of sorts and it is one that had me just a bit teary all day long. My Daddy died 30 years ago and when I say that not a day goes by that I don’t think of him, it is not a lie. It is true. He is always in my thoughts. I think that is a natural occurrence when you have a relationship with a parent that is one that is a close one.
My Daddy and I were pretty close and his death when I was a young mother of 34 hit me hard. He had Parkinson’s and while that is not what actually kills a Parkinson’s patient, it is the deterioration caused by the disease that does. He was far, far too young but solutions for patients with Parkinson’s 30 plus years ago were not what they are today.
Those memories that I have of time with my sweet Daddy are what I think about when anniversaries like this roll around. Time spent with him alone when my older siblings were in school and he was tasked with my care which sometimes meant going to meetings with him. I specifically remember riding in the car with him to a meeting and enjoying a snack of Chicken in a Biscuit crackers. Whenever I see a box of those I think of him. He loved to have a roll of Lifesavers in his pocket and each Christmas the four children would pool our money and get him multiple gifts which included those Lifesaver Books that came with ten rolls of different flavors of the candy.
Growing up after my older siblings were gone to college meant I got my parents to myself more often and I loved it. I spent a lot of time with my Daddy and loved being with him. He had a kind, gentle spirit and saw the absolute best in everyone. When I was in college he always bailed me out when my funds ran a little low and saw to it that I had what I needed. I am sure I had no clue of the sacrifices he was making to give me a little bit extra money.
It’s sad to me that he was not able to see his grandchildren grow up and into amazing adults as well as knowing his great grandchildren. He would have loved it all.
To this day I still have people who knew him tell me what a wonderful man he was. And he truly was. I was blessed to be his daughter and have often thought that if I can be half the person he was I will be truly blessed. Sometimes we are a combination of the best of our parents and I won the lottery with mine, let me tell you. I have been given a giving spirit and a kind heart and I know that both of my parents contributed to that and I am grateful.
If you are reading this and your parents are still alive , please take the time to call them today and tell them how much they mean to you. I only wish I could do that myself.
