After all, Daddy was the first man I ever loved.
He was the first to dance with me, and the first to hold my hand.
He was the first man to give me a shoulder and the first to dry my tears.
He was the first to dance with me, and the first to hold my hand.
He was the first man to give me a shoulder and the first to dry my tears.
He was the first man to bring me flowers.
(I still have the vase in which they came).
He was stern, when necessary, and he was always there when I needed him.
I don’t really know what I am going to do without him…
Daddy was the biggest dork! Yet he was always the coolest guy in the room... The most interesting man in the world.
I’m pretty sure he invented the dad joke, and he told the best stories.
More recently I look back fondly at the time he and Liz came to visit Gerry and me in North Carolina. We took them to see all of the sights along with a trip to a Browns backer club.
I was actually born during a Browns playoff game. Daddy asked Mum if she could “hold out” until after the game. I can only imagine how that conversation went. Incidentally, the Browns beat Dallas 38 to 14 that day.
Daddy had excellent taste in music.
He was the first man I ever made a mix tape for.
Our family loves music and it has punctuated so many of our memories.
Daddy even took me to see my first concert – It was Rod Stewart.
He complained the whole time that he had been ripped off. He swore he had purchased Rodney Dangerfield tickets.
We took long car rides to nowhere, with the top down flying through the Cleveland Metroparks we both love so much.
We spent days on paddle boats at Hinkley Lake...
There was snowmobiling, so many big Christmases, and family outings in the station wagon. We were the original Griswolds.
We played some of the first video games ever released...
Daddy bought me my first “cocktail,” – a Shirley Temple – at the corner bar where he plied me with quarters for the Pac-Man game. He even instilled my love of technology the day he brought home an Apple IIe computer. (And now I'm showing my age).
Daddy bought me my first “cocktail,” – a Shirley Temple – at the corner bar where he plied me with quarters for the Pac-Man game. He even instilled my love of technology the day he brought home an Apple IIe computer. (And now I'm showing my age).
I remember Daddy taking me “towntown” to work with him on Saturdays. I spent hours entertaining myself with big yellow legal pads and everyone's rubber stamps.
Daddy also took me to my first movie, “Pippi Longstocking” at the Brunswick cinema, where I discovered Pippi was my spirit animal. Coincidentally, Daddy took me to see my first play at the Cleveland Playhouse. It was Annie, another of my spirit animals... Ever the tomboy.
Clearly, I loved my father, and believe he was the most amazing dad a girl could have. I am so thankful for the wonderful memories and the way he always used to make me laugh. He taught me the importance of integrity and honesty, and I would not be the woman I am today if not for his guidance and love.
When Daddy first told me he was sick I was obviously very upset.
I remember him telling me, “Try not to be too sad baby.”
I asked, “How could I NOT be?"
"You were supposed to be here for a long long time.”
"You were supposed to be here for a long long time.”
“I know,” he said, “but I am going to fight this.”
I know now, as it got worse -and it got worse quickly- he realized he wasn’t going to beat it. But none of us, least of all him, thought he would go so fast. And none of us were ready to say goodbye.
But God has bigger plans.
Daddy sent me a picture once of a plaque on a wall. It read:
Who again will make drinking a pleasure
Who achieves contentment long before capacity
And who, whatever they may drink
prove able to carry it, enjoy it
and remain gentlemen.
He explained, "The bartender at Moriarty’s pub in downtown Cleveland, where I drank many nights to my capacity pointed to this sign one late night and said, "Gordon, this is you."
Daddy said, "That was the best compliment I ever got.”
This encapsulates so much of who Daddy was…
This encapsulates so much of who Daddy was…
I know he didn't want any big display, but he should have known we would want to send him off properly.
And truly, the best way... The only way is to raise a glass in his honor.
“A fair breeze and following seas.”
These conditions would ensure a sailor's safe travels. Daddy, I know the conditions are perfect where you are. And you are now sailing on God's vast and beautiful waters on the adventure of a lifetime.
Slainte! (Cheers!)
