we love you to the moon & back.
I have a lot of great memories with my dad, but one of my favorites was the time I scored my first, and only hoop. I joined the 5th grade girls basketball team. Don't ask. I think I liked the uniform. Whatever. Needless to say now, I am not athletic, never was, never will be. At any rate, there I was at a visiting school across town, and really the whole thing is a blur except the uniform (which is what made me think I likey so much) and this maybe 10 second span where I swear I left actual time and entered a sitcom type slo mo moment of glory. The crowd became muffled as I stood under the hoop with the ball and NO ONE else around. Bizarre, but I SWEAR it happened. My dad was the only person in the room I could see or hear and he was standing in the double doors right under the basket. I remember his expression so clearly. His eyes were wide, his hands were waving, and he was shouting SHOOT SHOOT LINDA SHOOT. So, duh, I took the shot. STROKE. no way. Mind you, NEVER before, or after, this moment in my life have I ever made a basket. It was one of those crazy outer body experiences, and even though I was only 10 years old, is still so clear.
My dad. Me. And the swoosh heard round the world.
Magic.
If you have ever been lucky enough to meet my dad, then you know, he's so nice, simple, quiet, content. Yes, all true, but as one of the few people who really know him, I'll let you in on a little secret. He is so much more. He is perfection. Seriously. I have been blessed with the world's best dad. Its crazy, like science should study him kind of crazy. I cannot think of one time when my dad has lost his cool. Not one. Impressive. Sure, he gets upset, angry, grumpy, what have you, but never ever never has he ever presented himself as anything but a cool, collected guy. He has loved me for me no matter what I do. He has made believe that I am great and I should never think less. He is safe. He is constant. He is the one person in the whole wide world that will always say the right thing, just when I need to hear it. He has appreciated my strengths and my weaknesses, and protected me from ever feeling alone. He still looks at me the same way he did in my baby photos, with sheer joy and love. And as a momma now, I really really really try to be even half the parent he is, because I know that will be enough to ensure that my children know what they mean to me. I know that dads like these are one in a million, which is why every single night when I thank the big guy upstairs for my little family, my health, and my happiness, I am certain to mention how much I appreciate this one more day I had with my dad.
P.S. And believe it or not, he's an even better Pa Pa that he is dad.
Whaa whatt?! I know, guess you have to see it to believe it...
