I REMEMBER

I guess this is the month for birthday's. Mine was yesterday and I thought maybe I should put a whole bunch of pictures of myself on here, but hey, who wants to see what I looked like as a kid right??, so instead, I thought I would share something a little more special. Dad and I always shared birthday's. Mine Feb. 9th and his Feb. 10th....today...so he would have been 88 years young today. I am a whole 57. Yeah, I know, I don't look 57...lol, and he would not have looked 88....this picture was taken in 1992, on Feb. 9th, I turned 40, dad turned 71..he was beautiful. A lot can be said about dad, but the letter or poem I wrote him on one of his birthdays when I had nothing else to give him will tell it all. Hope you enjoy...Here's to you once again Dad.


I remember when I was very little, I don't recall the age, but I do remember I was very happy and felt a great sense of security sitting in your lap. You would talk to me and hug me and call me "your girl". I would look up into your very handsome face and hug you, kiss you, and then be too busy to stay for very long.

I remember how lucky I felt when you and I went to the Father's and Daughters parties together at the church. You were the only dad that knew how to dance! I felt like Cinderalla at the ball. I remember going to the Dutch Dances with you and mom on a Saturday night. People would watch us as we waltzed around the room, and they would smile. I felt so very lucky to be "your girl".

I remember you taking me to the doctor, I didn't feel so well. We drove to the hospital in a station wagon. You were very upset. I was scared and didn't know what was going on or why you were taking me there. I do remember feeling very safe because you were there with me. I was "your girl", you would take care of me.

I remember lying in a hospital bed. I must have been asleep for a while, but I woke up and saw you with your head down and your hands clasped together. You were talking very quietly. I couldn't hear what you were saying; I closed my eyes very quickly so that you didn't know that I could see you were crying. I remember how much I loved you. I felt safe with you at my bedside. I knew that you would make everything all right.

I remember when I was not so young, and all I had to do was sit on your lap, hug you, kiss you, and tell you that I loved you. I was still "your girl". Of course I may have wanted something in return, but I remember I still loved you. Do you remember . . . that I usually got what I wanted!

I remember as "your girl" started to become a young lady, the visits to your lap, the hugs and kisses became less frequent. Not that I didn't love you as much only that my love for you had only grown up. During those crazy mixed up adolescent years I probably thought that it wasn't all that important to be "your girl" as much as I wanted to be someone else's. But you knew that already, didn't you?

I remember a time in my life when "your girl" felt as if she didn't need that time on your lap, that special hug or kiss. That is when I desperately needed it the most.

I remember a day that will always remind me that in spite of ignorance, in spite of my self pity and selfishness, I was still "your girl". My wedding day. That is the day I realized how important sitting on your lap was. How all the hugs and kisses were always there waiting for me, unconditionally. It was then I realized that you would be there for me because, for no other reason, you loved me.

I remember how I still loved you too.

I remember that through some rough times and through shared happy times, many years have gone by. Though you may not know this, I have always looked up to you for approval, reassurance, guidance and strength. You have given me all of this and more.

Remember . . . my love for you grows daily, because there is no other dad like you. You are one of a kind. You have given me all that I have ever asked for and I will forever be "YOUR GIRL". Your are "MY DAD".

Remember when I was young and all I had to do was go to you, sit on your lap, hug you, kiss you and tell you that I loved you? Remember, I still want to do that.

Forever "your girl"
Linda