My Daddy: Roasted & Toasted
Last year during Marine Corps Ball season, my husband and I were double booked (intentionally), so my daddy and I worked together while my husband went to work with his other crew.
Daddy - November 2014
Daddy is a photographer also, and I am the sidekick aka "The Photographer's Wife" and in this case daughter.
Daddy and I had to ride great distances here and there together.
I wrote about how during this time we overcame our ride together problem.
It has been more than 25 years since we had to ride together everyday, but because he can still manage to get mad about something I did as a teenager, I can still be tense about riding with him like I've done something wrong.
When it was all said it done though, we worked together as smooth as a well oiled machine.
When he got back home he sent me an email:
"I have really enjoyed working with you at the Marine balls. We work together very well. Most importantly I enjoyed the quality time that we spent together. I probably don't say it enough but I want you to know that I love you and I am very proud of you. You are a great daughter."
"Work together very well" gave me a lighthearted laugh. We didn't see that coming back when we assisted one another with household fixes back in the day. I know how to diagnose and fix a toilet thanks to something along the lines of, "if you know so much you do it" -a bluff that I totally called.
His note though gave me a lump in my throat. I wrote back...
"Gulp. Thanks daddy. For you - I enjoyed it too. Love you back and you are the best dad!"
Circa 1974
When I call he answers the phone saying, "Your mother isn't here" or "Your mother is sleeping". On the rare occasion I say, "Well, I called to speak to you" he'll say in the "oh no" tone, "What?"
We aren't mushy, chatty, huggy, or kissy. It just hasn't ever been our thing. I mostly remember him saying, "Gimme five" and me slapping his hand in return. And yes there was that once upon a little girl who talked him to death.
Today I'll give him a sloppy kiss on his forehead and he'll pat the top of my head.
He'll wash my car, and make me sandwiches at his house and I'll bake him cookies at mine.
We'll have a glass of wine together and listen to music, sometimes having an easy conversation, sometimes just sitting in silence, sometimes reminiscing into a fuss.
But we love and appreciate each other just for being.
Father & Daughter.
Without fanfare ado...
I decided to answer some of the questions about my daddy that Christopher answered for me in my last post:
1. What is something dad always says to you? "Check in." (If I am home without my husband, he will still tell me what time I should be back home.)
2. What makes your dad happy? When we come home.
3. How does your dad make you laugh? Watching him as a grandfather.
4. How old is your dad? 64
5. What is his favorite thing to do? Go to the gas station to buy scratch offs.
6. If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for? Winning the lottery.
7. What is your dad really good at? Gardening and anything to do with kids.
8. What does your dad do for a job? He’s retired now but volunteers as a Juvenile Arbitrator.
9. What is your dad's favorite food? Amy’s Pizza
10. What makes you proud of your dad? The man he has become, the grandfather he is and the volunteer work that he does.
11. How are you and your dad the same? We can hurt your feelings within seconds but never meant for it to come out that way.
12. How are you and your dad different? He's good with kids, I'm not. He has a lot of patience, I don't. He got Christopher to boo boo in the potty. I didn't.
13. How do you know your dad loves you? That pat on the top of my head.
14. Where is your dad's favorite place to go? The gas station to buy scratch offs.
15. How old was your Dad when you were born? 19
Circa 1971 - 20 year old Daddy
Much love, virtual hugs and kisses to my daddy!