Daddy's Little Girl

picture blend is done by M. White (thanks)




The only true man in my life has been my father. He is celebrating two mile stones this year. He turns 80 today, a feat we all hope to reach. The other, he will be celebrating 50 years married to my mother. He loves her as much now as he did the day he married her.


I’m the baby of four kids, him the baby of eight. I never really thought much about how this one little thing could connect us, but it does. A bound I will always treasure knowing how much we are alike.


Here stands a man who grew up in hard times. He would tell us about how they were sent out as kids (AS KIDS!) to work. His only payment was a meal. He quit school in the eighth grade but watched the evening news every night because he cared about our future.He spent his young life fighting in the Korean War. A war he will not tell us much about. Memories locked away in a hope chest, one day we might get to see. He provided for us, building our home with his own two hands. If you complained it was to cold in the house, his answer to you was “go outside and come back in”. I told him I plan on having it engraved on his tombstone. He has watched his brothers and sisters die before him. He looks back at old photographs now and I can see how much he misses them.


I look at him now with loving eyes, but that was never always the case or maybe I always have and just didn’t acknowledge it. My eyes gleamed when he would find old bottles out back while digging. A hobby my father enjoyed. He had a love for antiques and he would tell me why these bottles were so special. Today I love antiques thanks to him. I appreciate our past and the things that made us what we are today. I feared him as a child. I remember if I got into trouble he would make me go pick out a switch of the bush to a few smacks on the back of my legs. Trust me once is all I needed to never do it again.
I hated him as a teenager, sitting there at the supper table, thinking his voice was like fingers on a chalk board. No matter what I did or how bad I was, he still loved me unconditionally with only a stern talking about how hard he had it growing up. Now as an adult I sit here looking at a man I truly love with all my heart. His values and hard work is a part of me. I walk in his shadow trying to grasp what time I have left to be with him.


I stop in to check up on him now but give the excuse I need to do something.


I can see he’s tired and worn from a life time of living. A life that has been hard but he knew how to laugh and enjoy it too. He struggles each day but that does not stop him. The pain I see in his eyes is more than I can bear.


As I walk out the door and look back to see he is sleeping in the chair, my heart swells with the thoughts that will always haunt me.


Did I do ok?


Did I do it right?


Are you proud of me daddy?


All I ever wanted was your approval and


I’m almost 45 but I still my daddy’s little girl and ….


I love you daddy!



My father's favorite singer is Neil Diamond.