Happy 60th Dad!!!

 

It is my Dad's 60th birthday today. In going through my pictures, I realized that I don't have very many of him. What I do have is some great memories.
I remember from the time that I was little how gentle my dad was. He is very soft-spoken and kind--I really wanted to be like him in a lot of ways. I always remember dad doing a little eye-roll thing to try to moisten his contacts. I wanted to be like that, I thought it was cool, so I think that is where I got my eye rolling from. I also remember that one time in Idaho, I found a pair of dad's contacts in his top drawer and decided that it would be cool to try them on--not a good idea. They were hard contacts and once I got one in, it hurt like heck and I didn't think I would ever get it out.
I remember walking to the Post Office some times with dad--he walked so fast and took such big steps. I wanted to walk fast and take big steps to try to keep up with him--that is probably why I walk fast even today.
I remember going to visit him at the Post Office and feeling so important. He was the "boss" and I could just walk on in his office. I would pawn money for treats or just kind of go to be there.
We had all kinds of adventures. I remember, as a child, I thought that we were the coolest people. We had a camper that had an 8-track in it and a CB to the front of the cab. My mom always packed us such great traveling treats and we were set. We had the coolest house and the whole neighborhood would come over to play night games, it was a blast.
Dad would go out of town on business and sometimes we got to tag along. We would go swimming for hours and dad would throw us across the pool--that was fun.
Dad has a quirky sense of humor--if it rhymes, it is funny!?! He likes jerky, popcorn and red licorice. He counts cars going up to Zion park when he has nothing to do while waiting for mail in Springdale. He finds little interesting facts so fascinating.
I always thought that my dad was so handsome and I remember that in high school I had a girl in my class that told me that my dad was very good looking and I remember being so proud to have a handsome dad.
Then when I was 17, I had the scare of my life. I came home with Ryan from some practice or something. It was a blizzard outside and it took us a while to get home. We were laughing and joking around and we ran in to the house to try to get to the bathroom first. The main bathroom door was locked because Paul was in there taking a bath, so we were racing to mom and dads room.
Ryan beat me to the bathroom and shut the door. I started knocking on it, just to bug him and I turned around and saw dad laying on the bed, pale as a ghost and sweating profusely. I guess because heart disease runs in his family, I knew immediately what was happening, he was having a heart attack.
I flew into panic mode and really banged on the bathroom door and shouted to Ryan that I needed him to get out of there and help me because dad was having a heart attack. He came out and we knew we had to get dad to the hospital right away. We tried to get him up to walk out to the van, but he passed out by the bedroom door and knocked his head on the door knob and cut his head open.
Ryan picked him up and carried him out to the van and we headed down the highway. I remember going somewhere around 90 (in a blizzard). I am sure the angels were with me. Dad woke up and he said "you need to slow down or you are going to kill us all". I remember saying something to the effect that I didn't care--if we didn't get there quick, he was going to die anyway.
We pulled up to the hospital ER entrance and I ran in and yelled "my dad is having a heart attack" and I just collapsed to the floor crying. Everyone sprang into action and went to get dad. Ryan came in and got the keys and went to park the van. My mom was out of town--coming back from Salt Lake. So I called Tracy and then we waited. Tracy and his dad came over and gave dad a blessing. The police were watching for my mom to be coming up the highway on her way home, but they must have missed her. When she got home, Paul told them that dad was in the hospital. Some time after she got there, Angie, Ryan and I went home and I just remember shaking all night.
That was right before his 41st birthday. I remember he and his twin brother Roy celebrating their birthday right after dad got released from the hospital. Nineteen years, a triple by-pass and several stints later, he is still here, for that we are grateful.
I am so glad that my dad has been here to see all of my children. He might even make it to see some of them have children. He is a wonderful, caring father. A fun, playful, loving grandpa. A great, obedient, helpful husband. He has a heart of gold and we love him dearly.
Happy Birthday Dad--We are so glad that you are here with us and We Love You!!