My daddy was born on this date in 1906. He would be 108 today. I know that if You had had the opportunity to know him You would have liked him right away. Ive always felt cheated that my kids never got to know their Grandpa except through the stories Ive told them about him. Love you Daddy, happy birthday! As the 16th of his 18 children, I can say with absolute certainty that he loved me, even though he never told me those exact words. I tried to please him as much as possible and that probably helped create a strong work ethic in me. To my memory, he never laid a hand on me in anger. That helped me form my own simple parenting style when it became my turn to raise children of my own. The one primary rule at my house was DONT PISS OFF THE OLD MAN! I told my children Im not your friend, Im your dad. I can be friendly but thats up to you. Another of my famous sayings of course was I DISLIKE YOU ALL EQUALLY! no favorites for me. Like my dad though I wouldnt give you a nickel for another one, but I wouldnt take a million dollars for any one of them. Im sure my quirky sense of humor comes from a lot of my relatives but I believe my dad and my Grandpa Claud Stottler were mostly to blame/thank. My mother told me that as my Grandpa Claud was dying he told her Next to Floyd, I always liked you best She believed he meant that literally but I was always certain he was just trying to cheer her up. Back in 1970 my dad was hooked up to all the equipment of the day at Passavant Hospital in Jacksonville, IL and only one person was allowed to see him for 5 minutes once per hour. I went in last that night and took one look at all the tubes and wires and my Dad laying in the bed barely breathing. I couldnt help myself Daddy you look like hell... He replied well I think Im gettin better. I almost pinched the nurse while ago. he saw me smile and we just help hands for most of the rest of my time. I gotta go now I told him but Im going to hang around until youre out of here he said No youre not, youre going back to Bradley and study and take your tests. Youre not a doctor, what can you do? I said OK daddy but Ill call you. I talked to him once more on the phone right before he died. They were about to send him home when his Aorta burst and he went on to Heaven instead. LOVE YOU DADDY. I miss you every day
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:40:21 +0000