Thank You, Dad

As I begin this 2nd year of augustwenty and coming off of a week where I have been full of gratitude for what others have helped us accomplish, this is the first of posts to pay special “thanks” to those that have impacted my life. For those of you that really know me, it goes without saying that I want to begin with my DAD—the man who provided me with such an incredibly solid foundation.

Standing 6 foot tall and very stocky my dad seemed like a giant to me. His arms were the size of cannons. One handshake and you knew the strength in him. He could leap a 6 ft fence like it was nothing, placing two hands on it and simply lifting himself up and over. I remember that distinctively because I had seen my brother try to run from him more than once. Never a good ending. Being a police officer by trade, he had gotten in fights with people unwilling to go to jail; thrown through countless windshields; and hit by cars directing OSU games (one that he later chased down by foot). I’d seen him wither in pain with kidney stones, cut himself with a chainsaw, hit himself with an axe, and he almost drowned in a car accident…but he didn’t die. My dad didn’t die.

On Wednesday, September 5, 2018 that changed…my dad did die. After being released from the hospital just a few hours earlier,; he would stop breathing, his heart would stop, and my father would be gone. My life would not be the same.

I didn’t see my dad every day the last few years of his life. The reason? I didn’t have to. A piece of him was just always there. I had something that I’m not sure many of you have ever experienced, security. I don’t mean security in the sense of money, or protection. I mean real security. The kind of security that makes you never worry about food on the table or having clothes on your back. You would never worry about being stuck on the freeway with a flat tire. You would never worry that your kids wouldn’t have a way home from school or need lunch money. You wouldn’t worry if the repairman would be able to get in the house. You just didn’t worry. There was a place to go for every tool that you needed, the dogs would get to the groomer, most importantly your kids would be loved. I mean real security. That was my Dad.

Dad,

You were strict. You had rules to follow and high expectations. I wish I had taken the time to realize what you gave me while you were here. Know that I know now. My kids are who they are because you were part of their lives. Thank you for what you gave me while you were here and what you continue to teach me. I know you are with me every day. I love you.

For now,

Angela