Today is a good day, not because it is Sunday, not just because I find that I am still alive, although that does help a lot, no today is a good day because we get to celebrate our fathers. First I want to wish all the father’s Happy Fathers Day. I would also like to wish my father in law, Bob Gaug, a very Happy Father’s Day. Next I want to talk about my dad.
My dad, Richard Lee Daringer, turned 83 this year and let me tell you that man has 5 times my energy and his brain runs perfect. He is not a man for forgetting things. He wakes up everyday and makes life count. I mean he really makes every minute of his day mean something. When we were growing up my memories are of my dad working hard to keep his family fed and in clothes. Not such an easy task when you have eight kids. His solution for food on the table was to grow his own vegetables. Every year I remember the garden getting just a little bigger then the year before. His garden would feed our whole neighborhood. When any of them needed vegetable’s my dad was more then glad to help them out. He had so much that every week he would take it down to the nuns and load them up and my how they appreciated that. Many of his kids now have there own gardens because of what pops taught us.
Now another memory of my dad that I am still so grateful for is he taught me how to fix things. It did not matter that I was a girl, if I wanted to learn it he taught me it. He always said if you are going to own something then you better know how to fix it or be rich. Well even though I would love to be rich, I still would probably fix certain things. He also taught me woodworking, how to fix a car, although now cars are no longer made to be fixed at home. The point is that my dad wanted his kids to know how to survive and for that I will always be thankful.
My dad taught us to appreciate the outdoors, he does not like being stuck indoors at all. Even if it is just to sit outside and watch the birds. I get all of that from my dad. My mom would always say to me, you are just like your dad. Well to me that is the best compliment anyone can give me. My dad has a huge heart and is always helping someone and I try to follow in his footsteps on that.
My dad is also a great joker. Yes to some he seems like the quiet type who doesn’t say much, which sometimes he is, but when it comes to having a good time he can keep up with the best of them. What other father do you know will put on a gold glitter wig and sing Dude Looks Like A Lady, while we had the Karaoke going for his 70th birthday. I remember him also at times just taking my mom in his arms and giving her a great big kiss, just because he could. He has shown his family that there is also a lighter side to living.
When my mom was alive, she and my dad were inseparable. They had been married 60 years. My dad took great care of her for as long as was humanly possible when she developed Alzheimer’s. I cannot even know the pain he feels from my mother’s loss, she was the true love of his life.
I am so looking forward to seeing him in another week. We will be heading to the Poconos where my sister and her husband rented a house on a private lake. For me that means spending one week with the man I love the most. I look forward to us fishing together, playing cards together and sitting by the fire chatting together. For me this is time to be with my pops and enjoy every single minute of our time together. Pops I love you and I wish you the best fathers day ever.
Happy Fathers Day Pops !!!!!!