Saturday, February 17, 2024
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To my Dad,
My dad was an amazing father and an irreplaceable husband to my mom. It wasn't until recently, when I compare my own marriage, to my parents that I realize just how special and one of a kind my dad was. My dad honored, cherished, and loved my mom and his children, just as it says in the Bible that a man should love his wife. My dad didn't just talk the talk, he was about business and he walked the walk. He was the most generous and kind soul I ever met, besides my Godsister. He didn't have to know you to be kind to you and throughout my entire life, I never heard him say not one bad thing about anyone. Not one person. Well, except for my brothers and I, but that was well warranted! I often think about him and what he would say to what's happening in my life right now. My dad was a man of few words, but he always knew just what to say. It took me quite a while to process my dad's death. For years, I pushed my feelings to the side and every time I thought about him, I learned how to turn those thoughts off cuz I wouldn't allow myself to grieve for him the way I wanted to. The truth is, I wanted to fall apart. There's nights that I drove past the cemetery and I just wanted to lay on top of his grave. I didn't talk to anyone about this. I just kept it inside and told myself, no, not today, you can't do this today. But now, I'm finally allowing myself to feel, to be human. I miss him so much. But I'm glad he is no longer suffering. My dad didn't deserve to suffer. He was the person who was always health conscious, he drank aloe vera juice daily for years, he had every concoction known to man for longevity, copper bracelets, supplements, the whole nine yards. He kept his weight good, he went to church almost every Sunday, paid tithes, helped his neighbors. My dad and our neighbors mowed each other's lawns, shoveled or blew each other's snow with the snow blower. He came home every night to us. If my mom had a problem with us, all she had to say was I'm gonna call your dad at the barbershop and we straightened right up! The funny thing is my dad never beat us, (the 2 youngest) well except for once, but he didn't have to. We feared and respected him just on his word and actions that he didn't need to. He was my mom's biggest support system and greatest cheerleader. And her his. My mom never had to worry about anything at all, because she knew my dad had her back- even if she was wrong(which she will never admit to, lol). But they were truly a team. My dad used to get off work early and come to our games and that meant the world to us and is something I will never forget. My dad's favorite dessert besides his mom's coconut cake was ice cream! Sometimes he would call us little kids in the kitchen and we woud have ice cream together Sunday evenings. His only day off. My dad was the one who got us off to school in the morning. He made sacrifices for his family. He adjusted his work schedule to accommodate being able to pick up our nanny and get us off to school. So in essence, he had already worked a part of the day at home, before he even left for work. Whenever I had a problem with my car, I knew I could depend on my dad, whether it was recommending someone, or him stopping what he was saying and saying, "bring the car over here and let me look at it.". My dad taught me as a teenager how to change my own oil. That was invaluable to me! I remember my dad coming home early and I was at the table doing my homework. He asked what we were learning and offered to help. My dad had no clue what he was looking at, but that was okay, the point was that he showed interest, and that meant the world to me! I remember my dad teaching me how to ride a bike without training wheels, and one Sunday afternoon he was outside, and I was riding my bike across the street coming down the hill and crashed into the neighbors tree, he came and rescued me and helped me recover quickly. As your birthday approaches, I miss you and will always love and cherish the moments with you, Dad.
Your daughter,
Nikkia
