Sunday, June 15, 2025

Father's Day

For all of my life being a father is what mattered.  I remember so much happiness there was in raising Jules and Emily, and the absolute joy I took in life because of them.  

And, then, a miracle happened.  I married a woman with four children.

The miracle is that I have adopted all of them and their children into my heart.  I didn't know a heart could expand so much, but it has, quite easily, with no effort.  Love is not a zero-sum game.  

My day started at about 2:00 a.m. when Vicky and I woke up and she said "Happy Father's Day."  Little did I know.

Look at the breakfast feast prepared for me:


 Real, THICK, bacon.  Yummmmmmmmm.  And mashed potatoes with eggs!

And take a look at my "waitress!!!"  Is there anything more beautiful?

 

Emily called. My heart melted.  We have always been so close.  

Just one piece of my being her father:  for years I coached her in softball and basketball, just so I could do things with her.  I didn't know crap about coaching, but so what?  Those memories.......those memories.  Nobody can take those memories away from us.  And then, she coached one of her boys too!  Oh dear God.   Is there any blessing like this.

My new cups (she knows how much I have used and used the other cups she has given me).  One representing both of the states Vicky and I have lived in--Arizona and Washington.  From My Little Morning Star (the name I called her when she was very young)



After breakfast I danced with my love.  Here are our dances.  We hit every pattern.  Three of the songs were by The Beach Boys, in honor of Brian Wilson who died this past week.

First set of dances 

Second set of dances 

 
I got a text from Candice earlier in the morning, and then she called and we had a terrific conversation, as usual.  She calls me Dad, and I make every effort to be that for her because I love her.  She and her daughters have been precious additions to my life.

 
 

 
 
Then we had our party!  PARTY!   PARTY!

Vicky's nachos.....which I love.....and which Vicky makes better than you can get at any Mexican restaurant:

I'm glad you weren't here to celebrate with me because then I'd have to share them with you.
 

Then it was GIFTS!!!!   Look what I got:

 
It's a copy (an original would be more than the worth of our homes) of the Searchers script.  It's fascinating because you can see that they filmed more scenes than were in the film---obviously they cut some after filming that didn't add too much and/or to reduce the playing time.  

My favorite movie of all time.  And one, fittingly on Father's Day that I remember seeing with my father when I was eight.  How could it be better?

Then she got me this beautiful old needlepoint, What Makes A Dad:


 Read what it says.  We've hung it in our bedroom:


My card from my little sis and niece Tonia:


Then, later that afternoon I got an email from Rachelle that blew me away:

 

Rachelle and I are very close, and I feel about her, too, as a daughter, proudly.  

And her three children are grandchildren to me.  What more needs to be said?   She and her family will be arriving in three days for a visit.  We can't wait!  We have so many things planned.  

I am so blessed to have so many people in my life to love.  

And so blessed to have my wife Vicky who could not be more loving to me.  It's just not possible.  She shows it all of the time, in so many ways.   This day is but one example, but every day is like this.

.....and best of all:   I get to be the one to love her and cherish her.  Just ME!    

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