Happy Birthday, Dad!

My Dad is my role model and hero. Always has been, even when I was a young and dumb, unruly punk. I know some of you are questioning whether any of that has actually changed. I hope the answer is yes. He is the gentle, quiet-strength-type. Never says a bad word about anybody. That is THE one quality that I have always admired about him the most. I have NEVER, and I honestly mean NEVER, heard him utter a negative word about anyone. I certainly can't come even CLOSE to boasting that. He has always been calm under pressure, smartly and wisely thinks things through before coming to any conclusions or decisions, and has the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, and the heart of David.

He and my Mom have wintered down in southern Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, Alamo to be exact, since his retirement in 2000. They're having the time of their life with new friends they've made over the years down there, which I think I am probably more tickled for them than they are themselves.

I have a multitude of great memories of camping, fishing, and hunting trips from their sacrifices when my sister and I were younger. I have images of the Titan Mountains reflecting off the placid mirror-like waters of Jackson Lake at sunrise just after the morning mist has burned off seared in my mind, black bear in the Great Smokey Mountains, the repetitive view of the Lincoln Memorial from the highway we were trying to get off of to get to it to see it up close, my girls seeing Mickey Mouse for the first time at Disney World, my first taste of salt water from the Atlantic Ocean, the taste of freshly caught smelt, salmon, walleye, and perch after another great fish outing with the best fishing buddy ANYONE could ever have, and many have, and SO many more memories.

So, here's to you, Dad, on your birthday and every day! Thanks for all the great experiences and memories, and those yet to come. I admire, respect, and love you more than you'll ever know! Cheers!

Happy birthday!

Sadly, today also marks the one year anniversary of the death of Tammy's last living grandma, Grandma Lane, aka to us Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine. We think of you often Grandma and, are happy you are resting and rejoicing in Heaven with Grandpa for eternity now. Have a shot and a beer for us with him. We miss you.