Tribute to Dad
Our Dad had two dispositions: calm & calmer. He taught us how to ride our bikes & drive our cars with the patience of a saint. I can remember running down the block to greet him when I saw him coming home in his truck. I loved to snuggle up with him on his recliner & smell the delicious aromas on his flannel shirt.
I’d walk down the steps every morning to the smell of freshly perked coffee & WRFM smooth tunes on the radio. Everything about him whispered comfort.
When Mom required us to have our chores done & dinner on the table, Dad always offered to bring home delicious BBQ’d meats from his Butcher shop. not only for us; but he supplied the neighborhood after long, weary days. My sister & I especially appreciated that when we set the broiler on fire.
His encouragement was not limited to words, but actions - like when my sister & I practiced piano, & he joyfully sang along to that same old rusty tune. His attitude always seemed to say: “We’ll try again tomorrow.”
We arrived home from a family vacation once, & my Aunt (aka ”Sitzie”) picked us up from the airport to break the news that his store burnt down. Dad’s response: “As long as we’re all okay, it’ll be alright.”
He was a tough disciplinarian (LOL). Thank God our Mom “set us straight.” A date brought me home after curfew one night, & Dad sent me up to my room after a heated lecture. I felt terrible that I let him down. Not even ten minutes later, he called me down to apologize & explain that they were worried. I ended up consoling him reassuring him he had every right to punish me.
Dad always seemed to be there for so many of us. He was always present and frequently came by unexpectedly just to help out or cuddle with our kids. He built countless shelves and projects in our homes, & cooked endless dinners; but more importantly, he made himself available to anticipate our every need. He made life fun on a nickel budget by creating sleds out of cardboard boxes or planning endless trips with our family even if only to NJ.
The greatest lesson I’ve learned from my Dad was peace at all costs. He was always a gentle and kind man. If I had to count the number of times he was angry on one hand, I’d have four fingers left over. We were driving through Yellowstone Park when we were young, and a collection of cars piled up behind us as he chanted: “Isn’t nature beautiful?” Our job was to tell him when the number of cars got to seven; then we’d all wave as they held up unkind gestures speeding past us.
We’re all so grateful he’s been surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We pray we will be able to emulate his easy spirit and generous heart. We cherish the memories the bind us, and rest assured that Mom has greeted him along with Jesus @ Heaven’s pearly gates. Although our hearts are heavy with sorrow that he is no longer physically here, we rejoice in the gift of our faith which assures us that we were created with an eternal purpose.
I pray that each and every one of us will offer our docile hearts to God and serve Him with great trust in His will to be done in our lives. He never said it would be easy, but He did say He’d be with us every step of the way. On behalf of our Dad and all of our family, we thank you for your kind expressions of sympathy; they are a blanket of comfort wrapping us in your love and support.
