Father’s Day

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It’s Father’s Day! Write an entry about the “father” in your life and how they have made you who you are. It can be your dad, grandpa, step-father, father-figure, husband (if a father), and so-on down the line. Make sure to appreciate them today in whatever fashion you can manage.

I have written about my dad before, and I love my dad very much. This is the second Father’s Day in a row that I have been on an Honor Flight trip – and like last year, I gave him a card before I left, and he waited until today to open it. I called him when we were sitting on the plane in Denver to wish him a Happy Father’s Day.

I wanted to wish it to some of the Vets, but for some reason I had a hard time. My friend and one of the Vets on this trip, is a wonderful man that I work with and volunteer with – and at the beginning of the trip he opened up and talked about his three children, two who he lost – both to horrible illnesses. He has a hard time on Father’s Day and does not like to be reminded of his loss….

He at least let me hug him, even if I didn’t say anything.

This whole trip I keep drifting back and thinking of my grandfathers, my mom’s father – Papa, and my dad’s step-father (only grandpa I knew) Grandpa Ed. They both served – my Papa in the Atlantic, out of Africa doing photo-recon, and my Grandpa Ed in Alaska with the Territorial Police and the Coast Guard. I did not know them when they were younger, but I cherish the memories that I have.

This year marks 15 years since my grandpa Ed passed away; 9 years since my Papa. It still hurts, but I also can still hear their voices in my mind, and I can see their smiles and I know that I was and am loved deeply.