Happy Birthday, Dad!

My dad was born January 3rd, 1939. He was the third child of eight and the oldest son. He did not graduate high school, opting instead to join the Navy at seventeen.
That same Navy uniform I would wear as a Halloween costume for years!

Here he is, circa 1959:
If you put my hair on his head, you'll have a pretty dang good idea of what I look like. Not bad, eh?

Here's Dad on Christmas Eve night, 1986. My brothers, Jack and Kiel, bought him that recliner. For years to come, if you sat in his recliner, that was fine, but if you see him BEGIN to walk into the room, you get out. You don't wait for him to "ask" you, you just do.

My graduation day from Maricopa County Detention Officers Academy. It wasn't long after this that I called my dad and said, "Thank you! I get it now". Working in a county jail with inmates will help you to understand very quickly why your parents are hard on you at times. Understand and appreciate! Thank you again, Dad!
My dad passed away from pancreatic cancer in May, 2001. My first child was born April, 2004. Some have asked me if I'm sorry that my dad never got to see my kids. I say, "No. He sees them everyday".

When I became pregnant with my son, I calculated his due date to be January 3rd. To say I was excited about the possiblity my son may be born on my Dad's birthday is an understatement. However, my son had different ideas and was born January 4th. As my son marks his first birthday tomorrow, I realize that this is how it was supposed to be.

Today I celebrate the life of a man passed on and tomorrow I celebrate the life of a man yet to be. I think that works out perfectly.

Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you! You're the best Dad in the whole world!

*nose rub*