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My dad would have turned 60 this week, but unfortunately he only lived to see 54 birthdays. We lost him after a horrible seven month battle with cancer. I continue to have a gaping hole in my heart and I think about and miss my dad every single day.
Some fun facts about my dad~
*My dad grew up next door to the Anniston Army Depot in Bynum, AL.
*He glued persimmons inside peanut shells and coaxed his little brother into feeding them to a monkey at a roadside zoo. That monkey grabbed his brother and slammed him against the fence multiple times before my grandfather could separate the two.
*His best friend from childhood, Allen Ray Chaffin, was killed in the Vietnam War.
*My dad was voted "Wittiest" in his senior class "Who's Who?".
*My dad attended college on a basketball scholarship. He met my mom while she was a cheerleader for his team during his sophomore year and her freshman year.
(Correction: I was a year off. Please see comments. Thanks mom!)
*My dad & mom would have been married 41 years this December.
*My dad started calling me "Sunshine" when I was three months old, and I became "Sunny" several years later. I was known as "Michelle" for the first three months of life. I never legally changed my name, because I'm named after my dad.
*My dad & mom took us to the beach every summer.
*My dad was a retired history teacher and former basketball coach.
*My dad would make Jill & Amy answer Alabama history questions before allowing me to leave the house with them. Amy is still trying to figure out which two rivers make up the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Just kidding Amy!
*My dad was STRICT during my teen years. No telephone or T.V. in my room. No phone calls after 9:00 p.m. I could only make plans for one night of the weekend, not both nights. No driving on or across highway 431 until I was 17. I can finally understand those limitations.
*My dad knew my whereabouts every second of every day until the day I married Jason. I saw or spoke to my dad every day after that time.
*My dad would clip the newspaper and magazine articles that he thought I would enjoy reading. I laugh out loud when I run upon these articles stuck in drawers and random books.
*My dad always said: "You wouldn't worry about what other people thought about you if you realized how seldom they actually did"...so true, and "Choose your friends wisely, because you will turn into them"...so true!
*My dad and mom fully funded my college experience, including graduate school. Now that I am parent, I am fully aware of what a selfless and generous gift this was. He told me that "you can attend any college that you want as long as it is public and in the state of Alabama". I promised my dad that I would extend that same offer to my own children. Retirement? What retirement?
*My dad told Jason to "watch out" because "Sunny ate pinto beans for lunch" on the first day that he ever met Jason.
*My dad showed me that "you have to be a friend to have a friend"...so true! His life-long best friend, Brent M., became a beloved member of our family.
*My dad would loose his breath while laughing when talking about those persimmon peanuts, the octopus, and Marlon's home remedy.
*My dad gave his children the ultimate gift... He loved our mother.
*One of my most-prized possessions is a letter that my dad gave to me on my wedding day. The last sentence reads: "Your dad's love will be with you forever"...so true.
8 comments:
~~Boy! was he a tough one! This is so, so true & has made my day & made me cry as well!! I love ya'll so very much! .... OH!!Do you remember when I put ya'll phone# in the Swapper for a Antique bedroom suite & call after 8 p.m.? I wouldn't come over for a couple of weeks after that one!!! hehahe
Oh Sunny, what a precious tribute to your dad. He sounds like he was a truly awesome man and father. Thanks for sharing.
Sunny,
How special of you to give people such a sweet glimpse into the life of your dad. I remember him being very intimidating, but could tell, even then, he had a soft spot for you. Much love to you and your family. Dawn
Sunny,
This made me laugh and cry at the same time.
Your daddy was one in a million. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about him, miss him dearly, and wonder why?
However, I am thankful for the time we had together. We were blessed with three wonderfull children who have grown up to be pretty amazing parents themselves(your choice of mates has contributed greatly to your loving families). I hoped that by loving each other we taught each of you how important a loving family is.
Yes, your father loved me and he loved his children and grandchildren. His family came first. You are right, he will always be with us. What breaks my heart the most is that the new grandbabies will not know him in person. They will only know their "Papa" through the things we tell them. We will have to love them (all of them) for him.
Love,
Mom
P.S.
I met and started dating your father when I was a senior at Boaz High School and he was a freshman at Snead. I was a cheerleader at Snead my freshman year. Thank God for basketball.
Sunny... what an incredible post! Thanks for sharing. By the way... you really favor your dad!!
Sunny,
How sweet. It sounds like your dad was an amazing person. He passed a lot of wonderful things on to you. Anyone would be blessed to have you as their friend. This makes me think of my own sweet daddy!
Love,
Michele Harris
Sunny,
This is such a precious tribute to your dad. He sounds like a "WONDERFUL DAD". You have such a wonderful family. I will miss seeing and talking to you at school. You are such a special person and friend. I can't wait to see Janie. Enjoy your time at home with your family. Your little girls are so BLESSED to have you for their MOM.
Love,
Debbie Richards
Sunny,
I have heard nearly every story that you spoke of numerous times from my dad and they make me laugh so hard every time I hear them. What a weird thing it is to teach at Sardis and still hear stories from some of the people he worked with.I think about your dad often and I miss him terribly!
Ryan
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