Daddy has been gone 16 years. Some days it seems like just yesterday that I walked in and he was sitting in his favorite chair and some days it seems like it has been an eternity since I saw him. Mom and I were talking one day, I was telling her that sometimes I can feel his presence. Sometimes it is in my thoughts, sometimes it is in my dreams and sometimes it is in the things I do. This weekend he has been on my mind a lot and several little things have made me smile and feel like he was near.
First, was Friday when we had a pouring rain. Even with my umbrella, I got drenched. When I came in, I put the umbrella in the tub to drain. I remember a many a rainy day when Daddy would have to walk over a mile to the grocery store to get milk or bread (we didn't have a car because him nor Mommy knew how to drive.). But when he would come home, he would always hand Mommy the umbrella to put in the tub while he took his wet shoes off.
First, was Friday when we had a pouring rain. Even with my umbrella, I got drenched. When I came in, I put the umbrella in the tub to drain. I remember a many a rainy day when Daddy would have to walk over a mile to the grocery store to get milk or bread (we didn't have a car because him nor Mommy knew how to drive.). But when he would come home, he would always hand Mommy the umbrella to put in the tub while he took his wet shoes off.
Then Saturday, I was at the store and for some reason I looked on the very top shelf in the candy aisle. And there it was a big block Hershey bar. I haven't bought one of those in years.
That was Daddy's favorite. Mommy always had goodies for us in the kitchen, but Daddy kept his "chocolate bar" in his dresser drawer, hidden away. Then once in a while, he would treat us and get it out and break off a piece for everybody. Saturday night, when I wanted a munchy, I remembered Daddy and his chocolate bar so I broke off a couple of blocks for my snack.
Daddy was famous for always finding money. A dollar here a dollar there. I remember one time he found a bunch of wet $1 bills in the ditch on our road and he brought them home (they were soaking wet because this was one of his "rain" trips. Mommy hung them on a line across the bath tub to dry. We thought that was funny. Today, when I was folding towels, I found this dollar bill inside the dryer. Not sure how it got in with towels, but I have to wonder if it just happened that way because it is just another sign that although my Daddy is in heaven, he presence is still with me.
Happy Father's Day, Daddy. I love you.
