November 1935 - March 1987
This is the man that I owe my sense of humor too! My dad could take the roughest of times and find humor in it. When he would walk into a room, it would smile back at him :) :) He was very lighthearted... whimisical... witty... and very intelligent!!! I remember sitting around, playing trivial pursuit and all of us getting the giggles... Dad couldn't stop laughing he was one of those that once he got the giggles, that was the end of it, he would try to put on a straight face, then bust out laughing again... Boy, I sure do miss that smile!!!
My dad had a gusto for life... he loved to travel and most of all go to Las Vegas. He loved it so much that when each of us kids turned 21, he took us there. (Explains the Gamblers Anonymous Bumper Sticker I have!) He and my mom were professional dog handlers thus, requiring lots of travelling. They would also go every year to New York for the Westminster Dog Show, dragging us along... GOSH.. hated being thrown in the streets of New York with nothing to do but SHOP!!!!! Oh YEAH! He had to be one of the best shopping buds I've ever had... he loved to go to the mall or any store, just to SHOP (A Woman's Dream Man!!) However, he did kind of get into bulk buying... we still had a cabinet full of toilet paper years after he passed away!!
Dad had a passion for the arts. He and my mother were both drama majors and even though their careers didn't reflect that, they made sure that we were raised knowing performing arts. They had many friends that went on to become actors both on screen and stage... and when a play would come to town, we would always get to go backstage and see the "other" side of the workings. The best time was in New York, we went to see CATS then got a backstage tour afterwards... wow, it is small back there for all of those big Kitties!!! You know what Famous Person I got to meet.... OHH BOY... here it comes.... :) :) RED SKELTON!!! WOW aren't you all impressed?? Well, I sure was!! :) :) OK.. I met a few others too... but he was one of the first ones!! :) :)
I miss going to those plays/musicals, sitting on Daddy's lap... whispering in his ear.. psssst.. I have to go potty NOW!!! and him just smiling and handing me over to my mom!! :) I miss walking in the stores, holding his hand and just having small talk. I miss the smell of his cologne on my cheek, from when he would bend down to give me a kiss goodbye. I miss his Sunday Morning FRENCH TOAST!!!!
I Love You Daddy... and we will some day hold hands again... strolling along the clouds!
God's Brand New Angel~
