I have the BEST Father ever. When God gave out Daddies, he knew I would need one like the one HE gave me. Though we fuss, and sometimes life doesn't mean that we understand each others walks-I have always known in my heart my earthly Protector has my back.
Who else could CRUSH the dudes I brought by the house hands to see if they were "weak" in character and or spirit? Who else could be the literal fear of God in potential mates if they hurt his six foot two BABY? lol
God showed me what a REAL MAN is all about in being raised by you. A real man went to work EVERYDAY and never allowed his daughters to know a hungry day nor a homeless day. A Real Man worked from midnight to eight and met his "Oldest Sixx" at the train station if only to see her get on the train to school safely.
A Real Man who brought his daughters pizza and junk food when Mother was away and the day before made the proper meals we should have been eating all along.
I now fully understand why you were emphatic about us not dating before sixteen and encouraging not only myself but my sister as well in being INDEPENDENT Ladies-even when I at least I insisted on being a Rock N Roller rebel-complete with Blue or Green or Pank Hurr.
I can remember chilling sitting on your lap vibing with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sly and The Family Stone or even Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I can also remember bonding over Prince and me introducing you to AC/DC and convincing you they weren't devil worshipers. lol
Though I have a ton of Mommy's qualities-I also have yours. The sense of not living a lie no matter what. The sense of deep commitment to those who are close to you and learning when to cut a mofo off when they need to be. To be hard working and ethical no matter WHAT THE MAN says I should do in order to advance.
You don't think I still do it, but every birthday-I assess my life and my mistakes and make that list of what I need to do to improve myself not only for prosperity in my bank accounts-but my spiritual bank account.
I observed you care for your wife, my mother. How you would do HARD LABORIOUS work and rush home if only to clean her mouth with the glycerin swabs and make sure she was comfortable as you watched woman you married 35 years prior die daily before you. You were faithful and it pained you-but you never abandoned her in her time of need.
When I said I wanted to sing-you made me practice. When I picked up various instruments, you paid for them and made me practice. When I couldn't do my math, you found an ancient book of math to confuse me and keep me in tears. But I passed my math and the running joke is that I became an Accountant despite myself. When I had to performed you got out of you much needed sleep to attend.
So many of my peers have HORROR stories about their dads or no story at all.
One of my lasting memories is when I graduated and Mommy was in the hospital in ICU. This spanish chick hit my sister and I of course went to fight her three days before graduation. I lost the fight because someone tripped me as I was wailing on that behind. I came home MAD and you looked at me and laughed because I was concerned whether or not I had a scratch on my face or if it was as swollen as I thought it was. lol
You convinced me I wasn't marked and on graduation day when I was nervous about being the tallest girl-when I walked that aisle the paparazzi-I mean you were right there snapping my pictures. In between you blinding me, I saw Grandma YoYo right there grinning and cheering for me.
When we went to visit Mommy in the ICU-you keeping taking my doggone pictures. lol But I always kept that memory in my heart.
My second memory that stands above all was the day I came to your job with two dozen pink roses. You came and received those roses proudly. Your co-workers were worried about who was this woman bringing flowers to El Gato. lol
My third top memory was at Mother's funeral and the re-pass. Not ONE SOUL could say you cheated on her during the marriage, nor mistreated her. Through my tears, and bitter pain my chest did puff out with pride listening to folks praise you.
Yes, there are a gazillion memories I could mention-but those are my top three. There isn't an aunt, or cousin who can dispute these facts.
Though we butt heads-God KNOWS we butt heads a lot-I wouldn't trade you for ANYTHING. You and my Sister are my WORLD-everything else and anyone else is added dressing. It is just the three of us now and if God took me away today or tomorrow-I have been better than blessed to have you in my life.
