February 24th, Dad's 103rd Birthday

02/26/2007

My dad passed away in 1997 and I miss him everyday.  There are days, like today, when I think about him I get teary-eyed, something I am doing may trigger a memory or perhaps something I have done.  I miss him.

Dad was a very simple man, and he lived his life that way.  He believed in God and practiced his Christianity all of his life.  His way of being mirrored the best of the best, and he commanded, but never demanded, respect.  People liked him for what he was, just a simple man doing his best with what he had.  His formal erudition ended in 1918, the year his mother died of influenza, but lacking a high school diploma didn’t stop him.  His innate math skills allowed him to earn a decent living working for the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company where he worked in the payroll department from 1928 to 1967. 

My father’s work ethic was high.  He awoke every day at 5:30am; most of those days gone from the house long before the rest of us were up.  His workday ended at 5pm, and he was home most nights exactly 5:30pm.  Dad was very much involved with his church and Masonic Lodge.  He might be out one or two nights a week attending this meeting or that.  Sometimes he had to work overtime which always threw off the home schedule, too.  Supper without Dad left us kids pointing at each other to say the grace.  That was Dad’s job, and I don’t ever remember a family meal at home without it.  Mother never complained, and we knew not to, especially anything about Dad.  She loved him; he could do no wrong.

The love my mother had for my dad permeated our home, it was tangible.  They were married for sixty-nine years when they passed away in 1997 – she in May, he in November.  One of my fondest memories of them together is of them holding hands in church one Sunday morning.  They were lovers to the end.

My dad was truly an honorable man, and I miss him.  Dad, this tear is for you.  I love you.

And that is all I have to say about that…