~ The First Man ....

... I ever loved.

My Dad.

 Dad was one of 7 children.
He was a quiet man.

He rarely showed his emotions.

But the love was there and the love was felt.

My brother and I were the two youngest (of six) 

and Dad seemed to have mellowed a bit
by the time we came along

and he enjoyed watching us play

(and at times joining in)

This photo was taken in June 1974.

My parents were celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary.

My Dad was crying in this shot.......

he was overwhelmed that we were all there

celebrating with them

and

a few days earlier he was diagnosed

with mouth and throat cancer.

This shot was taken before the cancer got worse

and Dad had to have his jaw removed

and have a tube placed in his throat.

He rarely complained.
He died in 1978.
He had been feeling worse and worse every day
and so the doctor insisted he be admitted into the hospital.
He usually resisted but this time he didn't.
The night before being admitted
my Mother said he went into their bedroom and closed the door.
When he came out he told my Mother
that when he was gone
she should open their lock box
and that he had put something in there.
He died a few days later.
On the night that he died,
my Mother retrieved two handwritten letters from the box.
The first was addressed to my Mother.
It read:
"Dear Rita,  In case I don't come back I want you to know that I love you all very much.
If God wants me I am ready.
Don't forget me in your prayers and tell the kids too.
I have been in pain for a long time and I never told anyone.
I love you.
I hope the kids take care of you when you are old and sick.
God will bless them.
Please forgive me for all the trouble I ever gave you.
Once again, I say I love you all very much.
So Long,  Dick"
The next letter was addressed to "My Children".
It read:
"Something tells me I am not coming back.
If I did something to hurt any of you I hope you will forgive me.
I try to be a good father and a good husband. 
If I did something wrong, please forgive me.
I love you all.
Take care of your mother.
God will take care of you.
So long, not Goodbye.
Daddy
PS  I love you all!"

What I wouldn't do to have just one more day with him.

~

"It doesn't matter who my father was;

it matters who I remember he was."  ~ Anne Sexton

♥

Happy Father's Day!