Tuesday, February 10, 2009

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

4 comments:

Valerie said...

Happy birthday to you and Opa! Love you both!

Burrell said...

Stop! That brought tears to my eyes.
Loved it. There's something to be said about that special Father/Daughter bond that none of us truly escape.
Happy (belated) Birthday!

Mandy said...

Oh man I am crying!! That was a wonderful poem you wrote! How I loved my Opa. I miss you hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Terrie said...

The first thing I did when I woke up Tuesday morning was say "Happy birthday Dad, I love you and miss you". I didn't even think to pay a tribute to him in my blog but I couldn't have said it better. Although our stories are not exactly the same, our daddy was the kind that we will always cherish in our own special way, forever and always. Thank you for sharing this.