Dedication to my Daddy

Today is my Dads birthday. 25 years ago (this coming Jan) We (my 4 brothers, Don, Tom, Ron, Russ & I) lost our Dad. Today for the first time in my life I will let the people in my world read what I wrote for him just after he passed away.
Some of the things I remember are stories he told me growing up. They were about a Pink elephant (as I had a stuffed one), and she was a school teacher in the land of never never land. (yes this was long before peter pan came along) in most of the stories the pink elephant teacher would just teach all the little animals of the forest, although daddy told me that I was the baby giraffe, when I asked him why a giraffe, he said that even though it was just a baby, it stood tall among all the other animals (except it's parents) and would therefore survive anything life would bring. At the time I never realized he was teaching me a life lesson. (Tearing up from so many memories)
My father taught us many many lessons as we grew up, and I know the one that stuck with all 4 of my siblings and I, was the golden rule, above and beyond anything else in this life, "Treat all people the way want to be treated" I have always tried to live by that rule in my life, I believe my brothers have also.
Thank you Daddy for everything you have taught me, even though I did not realize it at the time.
For those of you that have parents left, treat them with much respect, they will not be here forever, for those of you that have lost one or both parents, keep them in your heart, they will live on through you.
and now for a poem, very very few people have read.

"I love my Daddy"

There were so many things,
I wanted to say.
So many things,
I should have done.

Maybe if I always,
wouldn't have said Nae(no),
a few of our battles,
Might have been won.

I just wish that,
I would have said,
All the things then,
That are now going through my head.

I guess the most important thought,
that really should have been said,
was that I really love you Daddy,
and I wish you weren't dead.

I want you here,
to help me,
to lend an ear,
in my times of need.

I guess the only thing
left to say is,
With you daddy,
God's Speed.

By:Nancy Jo Siegel
Jan. 1988

I do hope you all enjoyed the post.
until next time.
enjoy life, and love all your loved ones each day.
~N~

Mom's

Well it is almost mothers day. For most of the moms out there it will be a day of breakfast in bed or a dinner out, cards that make you cry or laugh and lots of hugs and kisses.
While watching a show this evening, with David, about mothers day, I have realized this year for the first time, how many emotions mothers go through with their children. I've gone through the happy breakfast in bed days, and the hand drawn cards, which are tucked safely away, hand made presents some still on display.
I've gone through the proud stages of watching the girls make up a dance in our old living room, the song not making any sense, but loving every moment of it, and bragging to all my friends and family about it.
Watching them grow and make mistakes, praying they learn to fly on their own, wanting to help them, knowing I can't.
Now they have both flown the coop, so to speak, I can only pray they will make it.
Aside from all of these feelings, I have feelings of missing my own mom.
It has been almost 21 years since she has passed away. I occasionally find myself picking up the phone to call her to tell her about something exciting happening in my life, only to realize she wont be on the other end of the phone. I was in St. Marys PA this past weekend to celebrate our grandsons birthday, and visit with some family, My cousin, Jan, gave me some books that she has in a trunk at her house. they were wrapped in a plastic bag, when I opened the bag, I almost cried, I could smell my mom..... I know that sounds funny to many people, but, most people associate smells with things or events in their lives. 1 of the smells that remind me of my childhood is dust. You see I was raised back in the woods, and the roads that were traveled to get to my childhood home were 2 miles from any paved roads. (our road did not have a name) So when it was driven, you could smell the dust. The other smell is, ummmm musty would be the only word I could say to have you imagine the smell. Well the books, smelled musty. Hence why I almost cried. The books were my moms, had her name in them, with her hand writing, it was a good way for my heart to hurt that day. The show David and I watched, made a comment about how you only get 1 mom.
So true. You can have mom like people, or mother in laws, and can love them as much as your own. but you only have one mom, for those of my friends and family that still have their moms, give them the biggest hug and kiss, and let them know how much they mean to you. For those of you that your mothers have passed away, remember all the good and fun times, and know that they are watching over you, as you go through this life.
I love you mom!!!
Love, Your little girl.
Until next blog. Enjoy your day!!