Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday Dad! Today would've been my Dad's 78th birthday. Yes....would've been. My dad passed away in 1993. I often write about my mom on my blog. Maybe that is because my mom was with us until 2007. But that doesn't negate the fact that my Dad is so much a part of who I am (yes, good and bad). All day today, I tried to think of what would be fitting to write about my dad. I can tell you that my father was an excellent photographer who actually won awards for what he did as a hobby. (We actually had a photography darkroom in the basement of the house where I grew up). Dad's eye was quite keen! I actually chuckled to myself that, like my brother Marty, dad would cringe at the fact that I was putting shabby quality photos on my blog. (Sorry dad about the one I posted of you here. The majority of my photos are still buried in boxes....and yes, I took a photo of a photo with my cell phone)

Despite the fact that composing this post was on my mind all day, I couldn't quite formulate what to write about my dad. I could talk about the fact that he was a lawyer and judge. He had a crazy, yet at the same time very cerebral/intelligent sense of humor. Oh....and speaking of intelligent, he was the most intelligent man. He was a father of six and raised us very strictly. But for those of you that knew my dad knew that he was much more complex than the words I just typed. He was a perfectionist yet with so many imperfections. So tough on those he loved but yet loved more deeply than he knew how to express. He gave me and my siblings our drive to succeed, our humor (albeit warped at times), and our strong wills - be that good or bad.

Yes, my dad was complicated. I guess that is why I struggled channeling my thoughts on today's post. But yet, I feel I have truly come to know and appreciate him. I only wish that I could sit and talk with him now that I am older. He was so very wise and unfortunately (at times) very misunderstood. But I get it now....I understand. I wish you were here to "inspect the stars" with me like when I was a little girl. But, I occasionally do that now with Madeline and think of you and remember our special moments. I love you, Dad. Happy Birthday.