Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Fathers Day Grandpa.......I was going through the closet just now and pulled out your hat. It still smells like you. I knew it would and that's why I haven't really done anything with it. But today I smelled it and it was familiar and comforting. You always pulled the hat off, played with whatever hair you had at the time and then put it back on.

I miss you. I think about all the adventures we had just while that hat was on your head! You'd help me with some kind of project, or problem, we would go fishing, or shrimping (remember we would always have to stop off for hot chocolate or snacks at that gas station after shrimping, no matter how late?). And how many times did we go out for ice cream or ice cream sodas - maybe that's where my consistent obsession for ice cream almost every night comes from! I miss our "dates" and will never look at a soda can the same way without remembering how we'd save up to earn the $4+ to pay for our treat!

I am sorry that I never really stopped to openly acknowledge that you were my dad. I don't know how you would have responded - I don't know if you ever stopped to think about the role you played in our lives. I think you were just doing what you knew was right. That is ALWAYS what you did. In your quiet, unassuming way you were just there - comforting, strong and supportive. I don't know if I will ever truly grasp how much you affected my life. I miss you more than I can put into words.....