Oh' Daddy You Were Always My Hero!

To All The Men I've Loved

I grew up feeling like the luckiest little girl in the world.  And of course I had the best of all Daddy's.  My Daddy was the sweetest, friendliest, most giving person I've ever known.  We weren't wealthy but my Father worked hard and earned a good living just so he could care for his family.  My Daddy knew how to make me feel like a princess.  Cherished and loved.  He always made me feel so safe and so special. 

The picture above was taken well before I was born.  This is a close up of  his father and him after a deep sea fishing trip.  Papa as my Dad and all of us called him died when I was 5 years old.  I can remember seeing him only 2 specific times.  One of those times I remember running across the yard and into his arms.  I don't know if I just built him up in my head to be so special but I've always felt like we would have been so close.  I guess I sort of idolized him and based him on my own father.

I would have never thought I would have had such a short amount of time with Daddy.  He passed away a month before my 28th birthday.  His own Mother lived to be 93 years old and his Grandmother lived to be 114 years old.  Daddy passed only 14 short months after my Mama died.  I'm certain that he didn't want to be here without her.  This is a picture of my parents before my older sister and I were born.  My family was not the best about taking pictures so I had to dig hard to come up with these.

I'm really bad about doing things backwards but I hope to share some memories of my Daddy with you this week.   

 It's funny, in this shot they look like they are about the same height.  Mama was actually about 5'9" and Daddy was about 5'7".  Daddy was stocky and Mama was so thin and tall looking it made them look even further apart.

A new generation continues to celebrate the love of a Father for his children.  

I'm so proud of the loving Father my son has grown up to be.  He had many wonderful men in his life to learn from.  Even though his Father and I divorced when he was only 1 year old his Dad was active in his life.  My Father was like a Father to Ty as well but aren't Granddads even more loving and giving.  They were so close.  Then just 9 short months after Daddy died I met Neil.  Ty was only 9 years old and Neil has loved Ty and Ty has loved Neil as though they are Father and Son.  Neil never had his own children and has always considered Ty his son and the Grandkids his own Grandchildren.  I'm so grateful to Neil for his unconditional love for Ty.  (I wish I could have also found a picture of Ty and Neil).

This is my son Ty with his daughter Ki'a and son Zack.  Unfortunately his step son Tristan wasn't on this trip with them.  Ty has been Tristan's step-father since Tristan was around 2 years old.This was the last time I saw them which will be 2 years ago come November 1st.  I just love this picture.  Ty always was a surf boy and though they now live in NY, his children are natural born water lovers too.  You can believe they all got it from me!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TY!

In closing I'd like to thank God for the earthly Father I was given.  I can't imagine having anyone anymore special in my life.  I was so blessed to have you Daddy and I miss you every single day. 

HAPPY FATHERS DAY DADDY!

I hope all my friends enjoy this special day with their own Fathers or at least the memory of their Daddy's.  That's exactly what I will be doing.       Love and hugs....Tracy :)