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June 19, 2005
Happy Father's Day!
This is my favorite picture of me and my dad.
Of course, the photos from graduation and birthdays and spontaneous summer moments rank high on the list, but in this snapshot I am happy and free and knee-high to a grasshopper, and with one big hug I am saying to the whole world this is MY DADDY and I LOVE HIM YA'LL! Until the day I draw my last breath, I will be the little girl you see in that photograph, so proud and happy that this is my dad.
Oh, yes, I am a daddy's girl. To me, my dad is all the good parts of life: honest, and strong, and dedicated and funny. And he is the center of our entire family -- a big far-flung group of colorful and hard-headed Southerners. My father is the one everyone comes to for advice, for honesty, for help, because he is the one that holds us all together.
My dad can cook like no other human on the planet, he is a gourmet in the kitchen. He is also, much to his dismay, a short-order cook for the family since I don't eat eggs, Eric doesn't eat onions or mushrooms, and Guy won't eat anything yellow (or he didn't when we were kids, that may have changed now that Guy's little boy is a picky eater. Ha! revenge!) But you know, my dad has never once complained about his nutty kids who all have to get three separate meals. He just thinks we're a bunch of characters.
His sense of humor sneaks up on you. I became a vegetarian in college, because ya'll know, that's what you do in college, and one day out of the blue he asked me, "Well, do you eat meat at school and then just come home being vegetarian to torture me?" And he saw the look on my face, and then we both laughed in the kitchen. My family is crazy. We know it. We love it.
My dad understands me, and is kind to me, and surprises me and makes me laugh and he is the only person in my life who has known me since the day I was born and cared for me every day of that time.
When my husband moved out, my dad and mom and brother got on a plane and flew to California to spend Thanksgiving with me. And my father, who is not a fan of cats, spent almost a week at my condo with FOUR furballs, who apparently never got the memo that he's not a cat person. Oh no. THEY LOVED MY DAD. Sobakowa? Who is off writing her manifesto? LOVED my dad, and would sit at his feet each day. Oh yes. And because my father loves me, he just looked at my cats and sighed. His grandcats.
Also, um, dad? Remember that time I sneaked the guy with the blue hair and earring up to my room? I'm sorry about that. And the time I came home late and maybe slightly intoxicated and read song lyrics to you from The Smiths? yeah, BOY AM I SORRY about that one. And also, that time I got the mini-mohawk on the side of my head? Well, I still think I was pretty cool, but I'm sorry you about had a heart attack. I really am! But come on, you thought I was a little bit cool, right?
Oh, Dad. Thank you for always being my one best thing in life. I hope I can make you proud and maybe cut down on some of the swear words on this website. You're my favorite, my inspiration, the only person I know who is always there for me and always has been. I love you! More than anything.
And so do your grandcats!
Posted by laurie at June 19, 2005 01:33 PM
Comments
That is so sweet. Your Dad is so lucky to have a girl like you. He must be so proud.
Posted by: Evelyn at June 19, 2005 01:54 PM
So cute!
Posted by: Christie at June 19, 2005 02:10 PM
Your daddy should be SO PROUD!!
Posted by: Cheryl at June 19, 2005 02:17 PM
Ah...Happy Father's Day to your dad!
That last bit reminds me of a shirt I saw in one of those cheesy little catalogs ("Colorful Images" or somesuch). It said something along the lines of "what do you mean my grandkids are cats?" I need to get that for my folks. ;)
Posted by: Emy at June 19, 2005 02:19 PM
Thanks Laurie! I can only hope that Miss G will have that much admiration and adoration for me when she's grown up. You reminded me of the good parts I have to look forward to.
Posted by: NolaPete at June 19, 2005 02:20 PM
Aw, what a tribute! It's just about enough to make a girl cry!
Posted by: Andrea at June 19, 2005 03:05 PM
He obviously did a good job being a dad. ;)
Posted by: ~drew emborsky~ at June 19, 2005 03:07 PM
Ahh L., that was so sweet! I almost cut and pasted it to my Dad (but I didn't, I promise!) And there is absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever with being a Daddy's girl, thankyouverymuch! Your Dad sounds like a peach!
Posted by: Lesli at June 19, 2005 04:02 PM
You are so fortunate to have such a terrific relationship with your father.
Posted by: LaDonna at June 19, 2005 04:50 PM
I'm a child of divorce, and never saw my dad after I was 5, and it has taken a long time to be at peace with a dad-free upbringing. But your post makes me long for a dad. Y'all are both blessed.
Posted by: kim at June 19, 2005 05:05 PM
Damn, made me cry--again. Happy Father's Day, your dad is proud of you, I'm sure!
Posted by: Anmiryam at June 19, 2005 05:12 PM
You're daddy is proud of you, that is to be sure!
( I bet he prints that entry out, never tells anyone, but keeps it in his wallet forever)
Daddys do that.
Posted by: Nancy France at June 19, 2005 05:57 PM
I love that photo. It's sooo 70s.
Posted by: Colleen at June 19, 2005 06:59 PM
Hi there
Your blog makes my working day so much better! I loved the earthquake prevention kit. My 1st hub and me used to buy canned food by the dozen and we wondered why people laughed (I live in auckland - home of dormant volcanoes...)
Now, can you tell me why Americans (north or south) waste so much time calling limes "key limes"? It's just one of those things I often wonder... Also I always do a smutty laugh when I read a US knit blog/site and they talk about "fingering" yarn... fingering is a much more fun thing in NZ, and I would have thought worldwide? I've been wanting to say that to someone for a very long time, and you, Crazy Aunt Purl, seemed just the lady!
oops better go - boss here...
Posted by: Genny at June 19, 2005 08:37 PM
That is a very sweet and touching tribute to your dad!
Posted by: Vanessa at June 19, 2005 09:15 PM
And I thought I was the only one in the world that had the "kind" of dad! How proud I was the other day when my girlfriend called to say how darn funny my dad was when she had a chance encounter with him...And to see my husband have the same relationship with our 2 girls is icing on the cake....
Posted by: Darci at June 19, 2005 10:54 PM
i love your posts! why is it that you always bring a smile to my face and make me happy that we both started chatting online! you are a treasure.
Posted by: jacqueline at June 20, 2005 02:52 AM
That was very sweet, Laurie. I saw lots of my own dad in your Father's Day blog.
Posted by: Martigny at June 20, 2005 02:59 AM
Oh man, Laurie, your lucky Dad. And lucky you. :)
Posted by: Mandy at June 20, 2005 03:36 AM
Heh, grandcats...my dad called our dog Buster his granddog, cause we took so darn long to reproduce..(five years, but for him it was too long!).
My dad passed away 16 years ago, I still miss him so much...he was very much like your dad.
Thanks for posting this Laurie. Reminded me of how lucky I was to have a dad like that.
Posted by: Mary in Boston at June 20, 2005 05:42 AM
Awwwww. That brought a tear to this daddy's girl's eye ... what a lovely tribute. He sounds like a great man.
Posted by: Ruth at June 20, 2005 06:24 AM
awww - what a wonderful tribute to your dad! and all mine got was a pair of crocheted socks!!
Posted by: rebecca at June 20, 2005 08:35 AM
Snicker. I think that pic may have to go on the company Bulletin Board. That is not the Larry we know!
Posted by: Crystal at June 20, 2005 09:45 AM
I feel the same way about my dad. He has been gone a long time now, but I still remember with joy the time we did have together on this earth. I am so glad that you still have your dad here to enjoy. There is nothing like the father-daughter bond.
Thanks for your blog. I HAVE to check it each and every day. I LOVE reading everything you write. I am completely addicted (plus it gives me a break from work).
Keep it up! Love the "grand-cats" too. I have one cat now (the love of my life; ok other than my kids), but I hope to emulate you one day and add to the family. Kitties rock!
Posted by: Joyce at June 20, 2005 11:22 AM
What a great tribute for your dad! I too am a daddy's girl, and you expressed so many dad things so wonderfully :)
Posted by: Amber at June 20, 2005 04:08 PM
