Happy Birthday, Dad

Today would have been Dad's 84th birthday. This is a picture taken last year on this day. I like it because Dad looks good and you can see Mom in the background. Birthdays were always a big deal for Dad. He ALWAYS took a picture of you on your birthday and frequently we went out to eat and celebrate. On his birthday, his brothers would call him. Uncle Bill would always sing to him.

My friend, Kim Wheeler, left me a card this morning encouraging me to remember what a good man he was and to remember all the good times.

One story I'd like to share is from two years ago. Dad got this card in the mail from Sam's Club letting him know he could get a free birthday cake from the bakery. So here's this 82 year old man, all excited about getting his cake. You should have seen him running through Sam's. Well, not really running, but he was in a hurry to get to that bakery and pick out his cake! It was so cute and one of those lovable things about Dad. He loved birthdays. Whenever we would sing Happy Birthday to him, he would sing along too! Mom used to say, "You're not supposed to sing for your own birthday!!!" But he always did and again, it was one of those endearing things about him.

I always tried to make it a special day for him. Pictures, card, cake, gifts. I wanted him to feel loved and appreciated because he was. I used to get Dad funny cards, but then, later I got him more sentimental ones. When we were going through their things, I found some of these that he had kept. That really meant a lot to me.

Happy Birthday, Dad. We love you and miss you.

Susie