Dad

Two years ago today - it was two years ago today that Dad died. It was a sunny but blustery day - complete with snow on the ground and swirling winds. Today Sara and I drove down to Columbus to visit my grandmother (Sara's great-grandmother), we saw the older of Dad's two younger sister's - and we drove by the house Dad spent most of his growing up years in, the family farm where I've spent countless hours - it just seemed like the thing to do, especially today.

It's hard to believe it's been two years. In some ways it seems like a lifetime ago - and yet I expect him to come walking through my front door, cocktail in hand saying "Nanc"..... As much as my father could make me absolutely nutz I would give most anything to share more time with him. My comfort is knowing that he and Mom are together again, she really was his soul mate and his soul was fractured after Mom died, though he would never talk about it - at least with us kids.

Dad was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, yet it was rare you'd hear him admit he was 'wrong' about something - which could get a little annoying to the rest of us. As I got older, a little smarter, and more patient, I realized Dad was a product of his upbringing, gene pool, and the time he lived in....not excuses, just reality.

Of the three of us I probably locked horns with my father most often from my teenage years on into adulthood, (though my brother could give me a run for the money sometimes!). Though those weren't the most enjoyable parts of my life - they were definitely learning times. The last few years of Dad's life we were able to interact with each other more as adults...but let there be no doubt I was always THE kid!!!!! Dad learned that his oldest daughter was pretty smart and could navigate around the medical community with pretty good efficiency - and I think he realized that even though I do have an emotional side, I'm not driven by my emotions - at least not in most cases.

Dad and Mom would be pleased that my brother, sister and I have managed to hang together and continue to be an active part of each others life - that's the way they would want it, and it's hard to imagine life being any other way.

Yeah, it's really hard to believe Dad died two years ago today - I miss you and love you Dad, we all miss you.