It’s my first Father’s Day without my dad.
In the days leading up to today, I’ve been stunned at the impact the absence of HAVING a dad would have on me.
I don’t have special plans. No picnics, no barbecues. I’m not frantically scanning the greeting card racks, looking for ANY card that doesn’t reference beer, golf, or bodily functions.
I wonder if this is how singles feel on Valentine’s Day. Or perhaps this is just one or two pointed stickers from the cactus that also pokes and pierces women on Mother’s Day when the Fates haven’t granted them a baby. At the very least, I suppose this Hallmark holiday has broadened my understanding of empathy.
I was blessed with a terrific dad. I know how precious this is. It’s a gift I will always treasure.
I love you, Daddy. Thank you for all you’ve given me.
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. ~Pericles
One week ago, I received the message I’d been anticipating and dreading for months. Dad passed away, peacefully and quietly, on August 3.
As you’d expect, we’ve spent the last several days with family and friends, making preparations and reminiscing over old photos. While there were certainly tears, it truly was a time of remembering and honoring the man my Dad was.
I am what survives of me. ~Erik Erikson
“Legacy” is a pretty hefty word, isn’t it?
It outlines your responsibility to pass on something of value to the next generation.
My dad was a hard-working, down-to-earth guy. Stable and solid. He led by example, not by force.
As a child – and later as a rebellious, moody teenager – I certainly didn’t appreciate much…
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Carrots in My Carryon 
It’s hard as our parents age. I wish I had a better relationship with my step mom. She waited two days to get around to calling me yesterday to let me know my Dad was in the hospital. It derailed my usual habit of calling at 430; he’s home from whatever he has done for the day but not yet gone out to dinner. My dad has a firm belief in going out to dinner for all occasions. I guess not this father’s day. But I do know the odd ache an absence of a loved one causes. I hope the day was speedy and gentle for you.
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It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t Father’s Day. The new normal.
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