Just the Facts #5

 "Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes." (Gloria Naylor)

 
Hello, my lovely friends! 

    My Dad's birthday is on Monday and I thought today let's get into some facts that I have with my dad. Let us all know some facts you have with your dad. 

1. My dad had a lovely tradition of giving me flowers for my birthday and Valentine's Day. With my birthday being just a week before, I was always delighted to receive two bouquets in quick succession. He always made a special effort to find purple flowers for my birthday, while Valentine's Day was marked by a bouquet of carnations. This tradition is why I now try to bring carnations whenever I visit his grave, a small way to remember him.

 

2.  My dad had a wonderfully goofy side that he only showed to me. He'd serenade me with silly songs or break into spontaneous, crazy dances. If I tried to tell my mom, he'd deny it with a playful grin. Billy Joel’s “You May Be Right” instantly brings those cherished moments flooding back. That song is the sound of my dad's secret, silly world with me.

 

3.  When my high school staged 'Dracula,' I decided to audition for the role of the maid, which required a believable English accent. Surprisingly, my unlikely passion for WWF wrestling and the iconic British Bulldogs had me covered! I landed the part, and my mom was so thrilled she called my dad at work. That night, he came home with a dozen roses and a card that I still cherish. The card read, 'This isn’t because you got the part, but because you tried. If you were a boy I would give you a beer, but since you’re a girl, here are some flowers.' Gotta love that!"

 

4. Okay, so when my dad got sick, the man turned into a giant toddler. Suddenly, I, the teenager, was in charge of fetching things. He even wrote me a "get well soon" note on a napkin, promising a hamburger next time I was sick. Apparently, my dad thought a greasy burger was the ultimate cure-all.

Being the responsible teen I was (and also really wanting a hamburger), I carefully tucked that napkin into my bedside drawer. Fast forward a year or so, I'm feeling under the weather, and BAM! The napkin resurfaces. I presented it to my dad like it was the Magna Carta of meat patties. He just stared at it, then burst out laughing, probably thinking, "Did my kid really keep that?" But hey, a deal's a deal. And you know what? I got my darn hamburger. Totally worth the year-long wait. 

 

5. Forget Uber, I had Dad-er. He was my dedicated drop-off and pick-up service for anything fun. Concerts especially meant Dad pulling an all-nighter in the car, probably reading a book and silently judging the length of the encore. Bless his patient, slightly-sleepy heart.

 

 Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope your morning/afternoon/evening is extra cozy and delightful. Until our paths cross again!