Tammi's World

My Daddy

I've shared a lot about my father over the years. HERE is my first Father's Day post. As I've said a million times, I miss him every day. But today is one of 3 days each year I miss him more than usual.

Some people give me grief for still refering to him as Daddy. I don't really care. To me he always was, and always will be Daddy. Plain and simple.

Everyone else called him Babe. He was a handsome man, not very tall but with the most beautiful blue eyes you can imagine. His hair was cut in a flat top - no fussin' for my Daddy. When I picture him in my minds eye I see him standing in the garage, in front of his work bench. The peg board behind the bench had every tool imaginable, in the perfect spot and clean as a whistle. He's wearing his "wife beater" t-shirt (but in name only, he was such a gentle man) and blue jeans rolled up at the cuff. He looks over his shoulder and smiles at me as I stand in the doorway.

The other picture memory I carry with me is of him sitting at the kitchen table. Every day after work I would be waiting for him. Mama would help me make a fresh pot of coffee just before he was due in the drive. I'd put out a plate of cookies and have the table all set. Now I realize what a pest I must have been. Here he worked all day in a factory and as soon as he hit the door there I was - waiting, pacing, demanding MY time. But he never complained. I see him sitting at the table, a smirk on his face as I told him about my day. He sharing a joke or two. It was our time together. Just the two of us. If I try really hard I can still hear him chuckle.

I've been trying so hard to think of a story to share with you. There are just so many - things that would show you a glimpse of the man he was. But I can't narrow it down. I just can't. So I won't even try.

What I will tell you is he was the type of man that took 2 lunches to work every day. One for him and one for the little boy, beaten and broken, that showed up everyday at noon. (I later married that boy, not knowing the story until later - how weird is that!) He was the type of man that would leave his warm bed in the middle of the night to drive a friend that had to much to drink home to his family. He was the type of man that took pride in everything he did. His favorite sayin' was "If you're gonna do it - do it right the first time". Well that and the now infamous "Never have to say I wish I had or I wonder if..."

He was a good man. He was a fair man. He was a quiet man that never said much - he was more comfortable sitting back and listening. He would rather observe than be observed. I sometimes wish I had learned THAT from him. He loved his family and was loyal to his friends.

He was my Daddy. Now and then.

Happy Fathers Day. I love you.

Posted by Tammi at June 18, 2006 10:13 AM | TrackBack