Happy Father's Day Daddy

A long time ago, when I was a young girl I would often wind down my summer days playing in the yard. I'd either be in a tree or playing in the sand at the foot of the hill, but I'd be in the yard with one ear cocked towards the road. As soon as I heard my Dad's motorcycle, I would race him to our driveway. As he pulled in, I'd be there hopping up and down begging for a ride "just ONE time around the block". It was one time around the block for me, but it often became many more for him as I was the oldest of four and there were often neighborhood kids standing in line too. It never occurred to me that he might be tired or that he had just worked all day. I don't ever remember him telling me no either.  Dad, if you're reading this I want to say thanks for all those miles on the motorcycle. I want to say thanks too for being a rock after my mom died. Her death taught me that no one can ever take tomorrow for granted. I don't call as often as I should. I'm three hours away, but
there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. I want to  make sure you know how much I love you. I love you very, very much. I always have. I don't think I've ever told you how proud I am of you. You came from a small delta town to a big city finishing your college degrees working full time after fathering four kids. Becoming a mom came easy for me, I had the best teacher in the entire world. You never had that luxury. You never knew your father's love  or discipline or had his guidance. You had to self teach yourself a whole lot of things. All in all, I think Gramps would have just as proud of you as I am but for the record I love you more.