I miss him

Susanne, Me, Dad, Mom

My Dad passed away 21 months ago tomorrow. And I do miss him. Nothing much, nothing overwhelming. Just the little nagging things of life.

My oldest daughter turned 15 last week and I'm going to teach her to drive. I wanted to share that with Dad. I wanted to reminisce when he first let me drive.

I was 15... a long time ago... we lived in New Orleans at the time... he threw me the keys to his Nova and said: "Go to the store at the end of the street and go get some more beer for the party". Yes, I was only 15 but looked old enough to get alcohol at the store. My parents were having a party at our apartment, and ran out of drinks. I didn't have a license, no insurance, and had never been behind the wheel of a car... but he trusted me, at least he acted like he trusted me and that meant a lot.

My parents always.. and I mean always... uplifted me, told me how great I was and I am... what a gift! I may not be the brightest, the best, the most handsome, but according to my parents, there is nothing I couldn't do... and they believed it.

I hope I can instill that feeling in my children... What a great gift! Knowing that no matter what the world thinks, no matter what other people say about you, no matter what your girlfriends, boyfriends, enemies, teachers, no matter what anyone says, you are the greatest gift to your parents. I want my four daughters to know that.

I make sure that I always tell my children how much I love... I call them Beautiful Girls... Precious Ones... My Girls... because they are... they are precious in my sight and in their mother's sight because they are a gift from God. They were wonderfully and fearfully made.

My Dad passed away 21 months ago tomorrow. And I do miss him.