FATHER - I GOT IT

I've bounced around chronologically in my memoirs, as my memory skips to different periods

during my youth, but that is how our mind works now. I hope you been able to follow.

I did not solicit any input on memories of my father from my two surviving sisters, as they have to

share their own stories. I'm sure there may be at odds with some of this, but it's through my eyes.

I've heard people's positive versions of their life without a father or their real father in their early

life. You know, bad father, bad situations, mom's presence only or raised by grandma...etc.

It is unimaginable for me, as my father was around daily, 24/7 for the rst 29 years of my life.

Unfortunately, I relocated from my mom and dad for the last 5 years of his life.

I was thrilled, my father got a chance to see my youngest daughter months prior to his death. I am

thrilled he got to enjoy my rstborn for many years and spend some time with my son. I know my

eldest daughter remembers' him well. My other 2 children, not so much, as they were toddlers. and

home visits were not that often because of the milage distance between us.

As I recall the memorable episode of the rst greeting of my youngest daughter and my dad. My

daddy being legally blind, softly beckoned my daughter to come to him as he sat in his living room.

My youngest daughter, a shy 2-year-old little girl. She was animately deant in going to anyone
with open arms on a rst greeting, besides mom & dad. As a matter of fact, second, nor third
opportunities to say hello were extremely difcult.

You had to earn her trust. Even both grandmothers had to work on it...My wife's mother would
never forget that lack of immediate bonding and she seemed to hold that against my youngest
daughter during holidays and her birthdays to follow with smaller, cheaper presents her
brother...LOL...We addressed it...issue resolved with smiles.

Only one sister Number #5 amazingly, did not need a second beckoning for my baby daughter to
greet her. I think she may have seen a bit of her mother in her aunt.

My wife thinks she may have possibly seen some resemblance to me, in my father.