AUGUST 13, 2013
I love to listen to my dad's deep rumbly voice as he shares memories and stories with me, and anyone who will listen, actually.
We had an interesting conversation over lunch:
Dad: "You're different".
Me: "Whoa, really? How, like I'm "weird" different"?
Dad: "No... you're a different flavor".
Me: (intrigued now) "So, like a bacon and bourbon flavor"?
Dad: "You are Africa. You were influenced by Africa growing up. You're a curry flavor".
Me: "Hey, I like that"!!
Man, I love my dad. Love him. He's a treasure I keep discovering the more I spend time with him.
JUNE 16, 2013
I nearly cried today as my dad bumpily made his way up the ramp and through the door today. Just to still have him in my life brings me so much joy. I love saying "dad" to him because that means he's still here to say "dad" to. No, he is not biologically my father, but he is my real dad because he loves and cares and cherishes me like a father should. And to me, he is and will forever be, my dad. Happy Father's Day, Patrick! I LOVE YOU!!!
OCTOBER 19, 2012
I set dad up with all his paints, thinners, brushes, apron, everything! I left the room and assumed he was beginning his painting of Fred. Instead I heard him talking and came back in to find him fully relaxed spouting philosophy. He said "there is a lot of fear in taking that first stab at the canvas. Because once you do that first possibility of failure is overwhelming. As long as you leave it blank you're safe"! I love my dad.
NOVEMBER 11, 2012
This is the story of how my dad received the injury that left him a quadriplegic.
The story of my favorite Veteran.
It was a warm Sunday afternoon in late October. The year was 1957 and a young Marine had the rare gift of being alone in the barracks. He had just settled in for a good reading of a mystery novel he had been trying to finish when a buddy walked in and invited him to go out to eat. He didn't want to go, he was comfortable and was enjoying this solitude, but the friend persisted and the Marine eventually gave in. They picked up another friend, a girl, and the 3 of them went out to enjoy an Italian dinner. The food was good and their spirits were high as they headed back to the base. The young lady talked them into letting her drive, she was excited because it was a new truck and went pretty fast! They laughed and teased her about not being a good driver, but in the end, they let her drive. They drove back through some hills, driving faster than was necessary. They came upon some railroad tracks and the high speed at which they were moving caused the truck to become airborne. It never landed fully, but bounced, rolling over and over before finally coming to a rest. When the dust cleared, the girl, thrown some distance, lay dead. The friend of the Marine was in pain, but could walk. The young Marine lay with his face in the dirt, unable to move and only conscious for a few moments before mercifully falling into a coma. 3 weeks later the young Marine, just 20 years old, learned that he was paralyzed, would never walk again and was given no more than 10 years to live. He went on to fight through thoughts of suicide, adjusted to life in a wheelchair and went to OSU where he earned multiple degrees, eventually earning his Masters degree in Psychology. He became a counselor and has helped hundreds of people with family, life and of course disability issues. He is a published poet, cartoonist, artist and writer. He's been overlooked, ignored, called names and treated as inferior. But, in my heart, he is and forever will be, a hero. He's an amazing human being who I am proud to call my Dad. He's my favorite Veteran. Oh, and those 10 years... have stretched into 55 years. Appropriate that he is a Marine, for Semper Fidelis describes him perfectly. I love you, Dad. Your daughter, Lonna
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