Happy Birthday Daddy!!!
Okay,, so pardon his goofy hat…. but this is my dad, Gary. He’s doing what he loves, and what he does best, fishing of course.. Today is his 65th birthday, and I’m not down in California to help him celebrate. ;c( But what I wouldn’t do to actually be down there……. (sigh)
I’m a lot like my dad. People say I look just like him. Inherited most of his mannerisms, and I’d like to think I inherited some of his talents. He’s one of the most entertaining, friendly, outgoing, talented, crafty, funny, witty people you’ll ever meet. He knows no strangers. So many times, growing up, we’d be shopping or something, out in public, and me and my lil sister and my mom (or whoever we happened to be with) would be out in the car for at least 10 mins waiting on him at every stop. As he’d be in there talking to someone about something, and my mom would say,, “Here we go, Mr. Jabberjaws!”… as she rolled her eyes. And we would sit out there and wait, and wait, AND wait, and then he’d come get in the car and proceed to tell us who that was and what they were talking about and how so and so is such a nice person and blah blah blah…. ha ha… He’s definitely a people person, but in his older age, has become more subdued and, I wouldn’t say “less-friendly”, but certainly has put up a wall. A wall that can be busted down some, but it still stands, waist high or so…. not high enough to obscure the sight of his lure……..
He’s 1/2 Swedish, and 1/2 German. But looks more like a Swede, and is hard-headed like a Swede. What’s that one saying? ”You can always tell a Swede, but you can’t tell him much” Totally my dad… I get a lot of my personality from my dad. I’m ALWAYS right…. NEVER wrong…. ha ha And never try to tell me what to do. NO ONE is my boss!!! I’m my own boss!!
I love my dad so much, and when he and my mom come to visit me up here in Oregon, and then when they have to leave… My whole body just aches. I miss them so much. I miss all of my family so much down in California. And even tho’ it’s just a state away, a mere hour and 20 min flight, they are still far away in my mind. I can’t just hop in my car and head over there for dinner. I can’t just come on over for dinner on any given night for that matter. I miss out on a lot of family time because I live here and they live there. It’s sort of become just an accepted fact that I’ll always be the one that lives far away. If it weren’t for the nasty California HEAT, we’d probably consider living there someday. Or maybe it’s the fact that 90 billion people live in the confines of California… I wish they would move up here!! In this picture, Dad is fishing the Coquille River down in Bandon, Oregon. It’s a trip he takes every year, and stays there in his camper for a month or two (depending on the salmon run).. He loves it down there. And even when he’s down there (about 4 hours from me here), I don’t go see him too often, but just knowing that he and my mom are that much closer to me makes me feel a little better.
Kids and I are headed to California for Easter this year. I haven’t missed an Easter yet. Even when I was in the Coast Guard, I’d STILL find a way to take leave and head home for Easter. The foothills of California in April are breath-taking, unless of course you have severe allergies.. ;c) The flowers are all blooming, the rolling hills are green, the oaks are starting to grow, the bull pines are busting with pollen, the sun is shining, the smell of grass is intoxicating…. I look forward to my trip down there this time of year immensely!! And so do the kids. They love playing with all of their cousins. Just typing this is getting me all pumped for the trip……… I just called my mom n’ dads a bit ago, and my dad was out driving his 1970 Opel GT. He’s a speed demon, a dare devil, has no fear……….. yah,,, I’m definitely his daughter ;c) Happy Birthday Daddy.. I love and miss you so much!!!
March 16th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
….and there’s MOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE comin.