Father’s Day is this Saturday and I miss my Dad.  He’s been gone since August 2001, right before 9/11.  That was a rough year for so many people.  Dad had been sick and in the hospital for several weeks, then he went into a coma.  For days my mom, sister, and I would take 8-hour shifts so one of us was with him all of the time.  Even though he was in a coma I used to sit and talk with him about my son and his family, about the silly things the grandkids or pets did, about the book I was writing, about the book I was trying to read, the weather, whatever popped into my head.

The day before he passed away I was sitting by his bed just watching him rest when he opened his eyes.  He called me by name and asked me where we were.  I told him he’d had several strokes and was in the hospital.  He looked at me with his beautiful blue eyes and said, “Oh. Okay.” He squeezed my hand, then he closed his eyes and went back under.  It felt so good to have those few moments with him that I cried.  He passed away that night.

I wish Dad were here now to share in the fulfillment of my dream of having a novel published.  I know he’d be very proud.  My son finds it funny that I dedicated Feisty Family Values, a book of women’s fiction, to the men in my life (Dad, my husband, my son). I think it’s important for them to know how much they helped me along the way and how much I appreciate that support.

Dad was a dreamer, too, and while I think he accomplished a lot in his lifetime I don’t know if he was able to achieve all of his personal dreams. I suppose we seldom do achieve them all.  I don’t know if he dreamed of being an artist, or stand up comic; but he had his own business, raised 3 kids, loved to laugh, travel and go out with friends.  He could arrange flowers beautifully and gave the best hugs.  He was handsome in a John Wayne sort of way, and whenever I get really blue I pop in a Wayne DVD and think of Dad. I guess it’s that time again.

To all the Daddy’s out there, have a Happy Father’s Day.