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I’m pretty much thinking about my Dad 24/7, so with little else on my brain, it seemed like the only thing I could write about this week…was Dad. So here we go. I want to tell you a story about my amazing father.

His name is Dave, well David. I call him Pop Pop. He is my best friend, my biggest encourager, my greatest fan, my truest advisor, and my deepest love. Yup, even beyond the love of my life, who is Joe.

My Dad worked for Ford for 40 years. He went to the University of Iowa law school so he always likes to tease me during Big Ten football season since I went to Penn State. Dad loves candy, oh he has such a sweet tooth. And since my Mom is always trying to lose weight, Dad finds creative places to stash his treats outside of her view. The most clever and funny was a donut I found in the garage. It is also not uncommon to find Fritos on the seat of his car, or a half-eaten peppermint pattie in his sock drawer.

I remember when I was in kindergarten, Dad dressed up like a ringmaster for some sort of school, circus-themed bake sale. I have the picture of him in a top hat, somewhere. And I remember another time he dressed up like Santa and rang the doorbell. My Mom says when I was born, he wanted to name me Brooke. And for the longest time until I got old enough to appreciate the beauty of being unique, I wished he had.

My Dad is old school in some ways. When we walk on a sidewalk near a street, he makes sure I walk on the inside. He always holds doors for me. And he says “Judas Priest” instead of taking the Lord’s name in vain when he’s annoyed. He is the most patient person I know, and the most joyful, despite life’s difficulties. He makes friends with the clerks at CVS and Einstein Bagels, he loves to chat up strangers. And did I say he is so joyful? He has not had an easy life but he is so happy all the time it truly inspires me. 

When I was 12 my Dad came home from work with a brown paper bag. In it was a can of refried beans. That’s how he told us, we were moving to Mexico. Which was the greatest thing to happen to me.

My Dad loves golf so that is always on the TV when he is around…and I remember a certain Christmas when my brother and I wanted to do something truly special for him…so we pulled our money together and bought him a Rolex watch. And when he opened it, he cried. And so did we.

When I was a little girl, maybe only 7 or 8, my Dad and I had a nighttime ritual. He would put me to bed and play a game of “Ticklebird”. A fictional little character, Dad would tickle me to pieces, putting me to sleep pretending to be a phantom fictional character named, Ticklebird.

My Dad loves Windex, duct tape, and anything involving home fix it. He is a superhero when it comes to fixing things, and he loves showing off his handiwork. My Dad has traveled abroad so often, but it’s not his forte. Dad likes home. When he visits me in Philly I come home from work to find him asleep in an armchair watching American Pickers, or The Curse Of Oak Island.

Dad puts cream, honey, and sugar in his morning coffee…it’s a ridiculous cocktail that makes me laugh. He drinks mostly scotch and wine in the adult hours. And he chews on cigars. Years ago before his heart surgery, he had to quit smoking so sucking on cigars is his fix. Dad snores, he’ll cringe that I told you that, and late night he finds his way to munching on apple pies, strawberry ice cream, or his favorite beverage of choice - coke with lemonade.

My Dad is my hero, and my best friend. He has been with me, arm in arm, through college, unemployment, breakups, health struggles…I even remember him eating pizza with me in Chicago the night before I had to have girly surgery. And the next day, he gave me my meds and was at my bedside.

My Dad is someone you are made better by knowing. The kind of man and person that is rare these days. The kind of saintly person that you want to be friends with. The kind of man who does not intimidate or threaten. He is wise, calm, accepting, and he makes you feel like no matter the problem, there is an easy solution.

My Dad is a November baby…the 15th…my birthday is the 2nd. We are kindred spirits.

My Dad is truly the best thing to ever happen to me….

So … as life deals him and our family some unplanned curve balls, I find myself crying, hoping, praying …and reminiscing

If you have spare prayers, I ask for you to give them to my Dad.

For that, I am eternally grateful.

Ticklebird

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