Dear Daddy

So many memories came to me today. The Father’s Day card aisle is so bittersweet. I have so many memories. I remember as a young girl standing on the dock waiting for your ship to come home from a long cruise when you were in the Navy. I remember riding on the back of your motorcycle and the time we wrecked on El Monte when the dog ran out in front of us, and you laid the bike down and broke my fall to the pavement with your leg.

I remember you pulling us in the snow in Aurora on sleds you hooked up with chains behind the station wagon and how you laughed when you swung us off into snow banks.

I remember in high school getting called into the principal’s office and you were sitting there. I learned then never to write your name on absence notes because they knew immediately that I had skipped school--because all the other notes came from Mom. You took me home that day and taught me parallel parking so I could take my driver’s test.

I remember when I wrecked your old blue work car and parked it so the damaged door was not facing the house. (Yes, I also remember I had it fixed and they even matched the paint!) Then there was the time when I was going to beauty school, and you sat me down in the kitchen and asked me to tell you what I’d done. I didn’t confess until you put the bottle of vodka on the table. That’s when I found out you marked the bottles. I thought you’d be proud that I learned how to make a flask out of a hair spray can. I think you secretly were.

You helped me find my party trailer and hauled it to your house. You put a level on it and started making a list of everything I’d need to outfit it. It was our project and we had so much fun at the river in that thing and the inner tubes you gave me for float trips.

I remember the July 4th parade in ’92, when Gypsy took off in a dead run, spooked by the fire engines, and I flew by you--off into the desert—and when I asked you why you didn’t come running and you said you thought I was trick riding! I guess you missed the part where I lost my stirrup and went airborne and landed in the dirt, covered in stickers.

I remember what a wonderful dancer you were; that little step only you did. I cherish it all. I miss you Daddy.