24 years ago, today, mom and dad got married. They had only
known each other for two months, but they knew all they needed to know, and
they loved each other. 24 years later, here we are, for better or for worse.
Dad may be in the hospital, but mom is stuck by his side. “Don’t you dare leave
me,” she whispers. “24 more years…at least…it’s just getting good.”
We felt like the weather today, cloudy with one hundred
percent chance of showers. Heavy hearts and teary eyes. Wake up soon daddy…we
miss you…
We thought about all the things we loved about him this
morning. The way he lets his dishes ‘soak’ in the sink, because he doesn’t feel
like washing them…or the way he bangs his cup or bowl on the table with a mischievous
smile when he wants more, because he knows I hate it when he does that…the way
he has a specific seat he always sits in on the couch, and he messes up all the
pillows…and if you sit there, he will look at you and quote one of his favorite
western movies…”I just want you to know…yer settin’ in my seat!” “Is that right?”
I retort if I’m feeling sassy. Which, let’s be honest here, is always. The way
his beard tickles our neck when he gives us hugs…. the way he sings to us at
night before we go to bed…entirely off key, and he doesn’t care, not one little
bit, and neither do we. Or the way he never gets mad at me, “Who moved my
slippers!!!!” he might yell…” I did dad,” I would say, and of course, since I
am daddy’s little princess, I get special treatment, “that’s ok hannah.” I get
dirty looks from the boys but it so worth it. I can do no wrong in his eyes.
Or the way he likes his coffee, black with 5 drops of stevia,
and if you don’t stir it he can tell, and will go stomping off to the kitchen
with a dramatic sigh, and stir it loudly for a minute straight. The way he can
always make me laugh, even when I am crying. “…oooooohhhhh Boooyyyyy, here come
the waterworks….” He says with a twinkle in his eye. And make-believe water faucets
on either side of his eyes as he ‘turns’ the invisible knobs. Or the way he
hates fuzzy pants with superman on them, and only likes his plain, black sweats
that mom says looks like girly yoga pants. He vehemently disagrees of course,
and laughs his big belly laughs. He almost always has a twinkle in his eye… The
way he lets the boys cuddle with him, making a daddy sandwich, Matt on one
side, Jono on the other, and daddy in-between. The way, when he wants something…maybe
to play video games, he will come and act like a little boy, “Hi mom, you look
pretty today…” “…so, ummmm...can we play video games?” How could you possibly
say no?! Or when he is feeling cool, and me and mom happen to be in the same room,
he walks in and leans on the door. “Ladies!” he says, and does the teenager
hair flip thing that is so hard to explain. Sometimes he pretends he can’t hear…”
background noise!” he blames it on. But then, somehow, if we say his name waaaayyyy
in the back of the house, “What did you say about me?!” he yells back. Hmmmmm….Me
thinks something is off. Or when we mumble and say things quietly; “YOU HAVE TO
EEENNNNUUUNNNCCCIIIAATTTEEE!!” (enunciate) he says, drawing out the words
overdramatically. Really dad…
Love, Hannah
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