My Dad

has a birthday today. 
Yes, indeed. It is his 88th birthday. I wonder how Daddy would be, if he still walked this earth. My guess Dad would still charm the ladies, as he did the nurses during his hospital stays. The nurses would tell me how Dad would just talk and talk about me.
The picture here, during my spandex legging stage, with black Reeboks tennis shoes, was snapped sometime in the early 90's. Before diabetes grabbed hold of Dad and wrestled him down one too many times. Before the one time Dad's eye sight was  robbed and his heart could no longer keep pace. 
Just before.
 Daddy was my heart, and I was his life--his 'prettiest girl' he'd say.
My eyes water as I miss our times on that stoop, and Dad's cigar smoke tickles my nose.  When I'd come back to Dallas, after am Iowa trip home and open my suitcase, all my clean clothes (which Dad usually folded!) smelled of his King Edward cigar. And  I would smile. 
To remember and savor that scent--one more time--just to know Daddy was near-
Makes me smile. .

May 17, 1924 was Saturday

My Big Daddy Don was born on this day.
Intimidated some, yet gentle as a teddy bear.
Oh, my Daddy loved his King Edward cigars and
Johnny Walker Red or Black (he wasn't prejudiced!) scotch and
Chit'lins and liver and onions and
Pineapple Malts from our local ice cream shoppe...

He loved his Iowa Hawkeyes, wore his Hawkeye jacket proud
(it hangs in my closet)
And loved The Andy Griffith Show and his Western Channel
Oh, Daddy loved to fish night or day or both-
He loved to send me at least a dozen birthday cards
And could iron and fold clothes better than anybody
Daddy loved to fry up some good ol Iowa pork chops
Or flip pancakes on a Sunday morning-
My Daddy loved to call me on Saturdays by 10 AM
Just to "see what I was doin'
He even loved to tell people about me and those OSMONDS
And he loved my cats, even when they ate step mother's birds...
Ahh, Dad loved when I said I was 'on my way' as I drove from
Dallas to home. Usually 750 miles with only cats for company
He sat in his chair, in the front room-to wait and worry
Until I pulled up in the drive way
He always breathed a sigh of relief
And then he'd laugh as cats scattered about-
I love to remember his hugs
Especially on this day, because
I know how much my Daddy loved me...

..and I loved him..
Happy Birthday, Daddy--
It's been 10 years since you've been gone--
At time it seems like a blink of an eye...