Your Dad

I never knew a man who wanted to become a father as much as yours did.  It was all part of the scenario when we met.  "I want to get married and have kids."  I will always be grateful that you came along as soon as you did.  He would have quickly grown impatient waiting for his family dream.  The days of your birth were without measure for him.  He could not have been happier.  He never cared about having a boy or girl, only that you were healthy babies.  The hardest thing he did in the early days was go to work and leave you at home.  A daily walk or two to the store was always on our agenda.  The minute you showed up, he would stop everything and pick you up and hold you.  He would proudly present you to a waiting customer or salesperson with that big smile of his and eyes ablaze.  "This is my baby." Oftentimes I would take over the cash register so he could enjoy his time with both of you.  Diapers were changed on top of the freezer filled with bags of ice and we stayed until someone needed a nap or to be fed.  Your dad was always sad to see us go; he would stand at the door and wave and wave like he might not see you again for days.  When 5:30 rolled around he'd bound in the door and look for his kids to give them both a hug and kiss.  

He loved you with a love that was deep and true.  There was nothing you could ever have done that could have broken that bond.  He firmly believed from day one that you were the smartest, cutest, funniest children that had ever been born.  No matter what you were doing, he thought it was perfect and you became the focus of all of his stories.  Guess what Maria did.  Watch what Dave can do.  With each of your achievements he wanted it to be recorded and remembered for all time.  He was constantly telling me to take a picture of whatever you were doing.  So there are pictures of Dave holding a kitten, Maria eating a peach, and the two of you displaying your first savings account booklets.  He rarely wanted his picture taken so this one is special; it was taken outside of the Lawrence Hall of Science in 1985 after you had once again proven that you were Daddy's little geniuses.  

As the holder of these memories, I share them with you so that on this Father's Day, you will once more feel the love that was endlessly given to you and intended to last for all of eternity.  Let this love of your childhood hold you while you feel the embrace of your Dad as he once again swings you up and you see the world from the perch on top of his shoulders.