Twenty five years ago today, a drunk driver took the life of this amazing man and left the world with one less genuine, caring, funny, devoted and truly kind person. He was a husband of almost 25 years, a father of two, a son, a brother, a marathon runner and tri-athlete, a bringer of joy, a wiper of tears, a game player, a teacher, a place of safety during life's storms. Today he would be a husband of almost fifty years, the father of two children in their 40's, and a grandfather of five.
He took me to the elementary school playground and helped me learn to do flips on the bars. He taught me to drive on the back streets of our home town, always remembering to act "cool" as we cruised the lakefront. He helped me build cage after cage for rabbits and followed the footprints in the snow on dark winter nights to find the people who cut into the cages and stole the rabbits. He insisted that no NOBS (Nasty Ole Boys) should be calling the house of his SIG (Sweet Innocent Girl). He sang Willie Nelson songs loudly. He shouted "I LOVE YOU!" out of the car window when dropping me in the drop off line at Mandeville High just to try to embarrass me. He taped cross-eyed, crazed pictures of himself to our door to warn off burglars (and to make us laugh) after we were robbed.
He would have been the best grandfather ever and I so wish he had been given the chance to meet his grandchildren.
So here's to you, Dad! You will always be remembered.
And "I won't put no plastic flowers on your grave..."
