Do you remember that song? Mike Douglas recorded it...oh, so many years ago.
Not too many weeks ago, I was watching a documentary on Mike Douglas on PBS and he sang a snippet of that song. I tried to remember the rest and it got me crying (nothing new - old stuff usually makes me cry). It was a touching song then and it is so touching now. It should have made it big as a wedding song! Anyway, I got to thinking of my daddy (yes, I still think of him as my daddy, cuz I was his little girl). If you knew Daddy, you knew what a great guy he was. If he loved you, you knew he loved you - unconditionally! I think that was one of the qualities about Dale that I picked up on. They say, you know, that you marry someone like your dad.
Daddy only had a grade 8 (eighth grade, for you Americans) education, but I thought he was a genius! He could fix things and make things and he knew so much about the world. He had enlisted in the army when he was 18 (or just about or something like that) and was stationed in North Africa and Europe (France and Germany), so he was well-traveled. (I guess you can call it "traveling" if it's during your army stint.) I think it was a hard experience for him, as I don't think he liked talking about it. I have the letters he wrote our mom and it does sound like it was a hard life.
Once he got home and married my mom, he found the Lord, through the testimony of our maternal grandmother and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He had a passion for the Lord, too and I think it got stronger under the leadership of Pastor Owen Baxter. Pastor Baxter challenged us all to walk closer to the Lord and study His word and Daddy did that.
If you've read Jen's blog about her Craig, it reminded me of Daddy a bit. Or maybe my perception of him. I can only say what I remember of my times with him and what I saw him doing.
One Father's Day, after I had graduated from high school and had a job, I treated him to a professional baseball game with the Kansas City Royals (Or was it still the A's back then?). Anyway, I remember having a great time, sitting and talking and enjoying the game, but I don't remember who we played or who won. It didn't matter, I was with my daddy and I was so happy. I remember going with him to Western Auto or Sears for parts, etc. Not that I was helping, but I loved going with him. Oh wow, I miss those times!
When he was killed in 1989 and taken from us so suddenly, we were further devastated when the funeral home said he was too injured for an open casket. We couldn't even say goodbye! Mom and I were talking and we said why couldn't they have opened the bottom end and let us see his hand or leg. At least it would have helped us say goodbye. It is his hands I remember so much and Dale's hands do remind me of Daddy's. Isn't that funny? I guess they both have the hands of mechanics. Daddy was a machinist for the American Can Company. I remember one time he took me there with him (don't recall why), I must have been six or so. He introduced me to the men and one or two women he worked with. I remember one of the men calling me "Goldilocks" (yep, I had blonde curly hair back then). I was so proud to be with my dad!
I think the hardest thing for me is that we lived so far away our children never really got to know their grandfather (and grandmother) very well. I know they would have loved having Grandpa around. When I watch Dale with our grandkids it makes me remember that over and over again. Our kiddies love their "Papa"!
Dale is like my dad with his unconditional love. I'm so thankful I can say that of my husband. I know he loves me and our kids and grandkids, no matter what. He's a very kind and helpful person, like Daddy was and he loves doing service in the church. I think he misses being an usher, but it was too hard on his "old" body. He hasn't traveled, but his memory is still pretty sharp and he loves watching the History channel and learning about WWII and all. Don't let him tell you he sucks at Trivial Pursuit - he knows more than he lets on!! I love him dearly and cherish the time I have with him.
Well, I guess that is about it for the "Men in My Little Girls' Lives" (I changed it to include all my girls). Ladies, take time to give your men a big hug and kiss and thank them for being in your lives. You never know how long they will be with you. Oh and especially thank God every day for the time you have with them.
