I have decided the you, as my readers, deserved to know a little more about me. To that end, I will be shared some precious memories, of those that I have lost, with you. These people all had a strong impact on my life and the development of who I am today. First off, let’s start with the lose that probably impacted me the most, because it happened in my more impressionable years.
As previously mentioned, I lost my daddy when I was nine-years-old. He has a giant of a man, with a thick build and round hairy face. Dad was a respiratory therapist at Humana hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. He worked hard, but no matter what, he always made time to play with his daughters. As a young girl, I remember being carried around on his shoulders, which allowed me to touch to ceiling in our living room. Our family nickname for dad was “bucking bronco”, because he would get on all fours to give my sisters and I rides on his back. Once we were on, dad would jump around like a wild horse. He also loved hunting and fishing. Whenever he went away on hunting trips, he usually came back with gifts for each of us. I still have the plastic, poseable Indian doll that he gave me after one such trip. However, one of my favorite memories with dad is just an ordinary day. Dad took me, and only me, out to eat at Burger King. We had two cheeseburgers and two orders of French fries for two dollars. After lunch, we went to Target. Dad bought me a plastic toy submarine from the bargain ban. It isn’t a fancy memory, but it was a special day because it was just us.
My daddy taught me to make every day special, especially those spent with important people in your life. Ever since I lost him to leukemia, I continue to try to make time to truly be there for my loved ones, even if it is just to sit and listen. Dad also instilled me with a love of nature and a wild sort of imagination. Because of daddy, I enjoy hiking, something that helps me to stay in good health. Furthermore, he is the family member that I most credit with inspiring my writing career. My advice to my readers is to holding on the simple memories. They are often the sweetest. May God bless all of my readers!