Happy Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's day. I am generally the kind of wife that makes sure my hubby feels ultra-appreciated on any of his special days (and even a few in-between)! However, I was not home for Father's Day this year. Instead I was in a car headed home from sunny Saugatuck, Michigan, with three of my dearest friends. Collectively we form the Dead Dads Club (or "The DDC" as we like to call it). All four of us have lost our fathers at some point in our lives, and while this is not the thread that binds us, it is a blanket of comfort for each of us at different times.

We had a great weekend (will post a pic of the beach and our B&B later). The weather was sunny and hot (although it rained the first night). We had a great time relaxing on the beach and enjoyed the band at the Butler on our last night. We laughed so hard, my abs were sore! As with every meeting of the DDC, we spent much of our time telling stories about kids, work, family, memories and joys. Typically, we always end up talking about our dads.

We all have such different memories of our fathers, mostly because we were all at very different places in our lives when they left us. My dad was such a loving man. While there is so much I didn't get the chance to know about him, I can say without doubt that he was very proud of me and made sure I knew it. He had a great smile and whistled to get your attention. He wore Blue Blocker sunglasses and always smelled of Lagerfeld. He was very smart, but never acted like he was "above" anyone. He tapped his fingers on the dashboard in time with the music, a trait that I do today, and he popped his knuckles- another trait I picked-up... I selfishly miss him deeply for all the things I wish I knew and all the things I wish he could be a part of, especially my girls' lives.

I do feel a bit guilty for not giving Pat the full-fledged Father's Day he deserves. He's an amazing father. He's the father I wish I grew-up with. He's sometimes the parent I wish I could be. I watch him with our kids and fall more in love with him. Ask any of my girls, and they'll tell you how great their daddy is. He plays with them, builds forts with them, reads with them, hugs them, laughs with them, loves them. And while I wasn't there to make him breakfast or let him sleep in, I hope he knows that I am so proud to be his wife. I pray my girls are much, much older than I am today when they become members of the club that I hold dear, and when they do, I know they will have quite a collection of memories of one great father who loves them very, very much.