For many, June is an exciting month! It marks the end of the school year, the beginning of summer vacations, and long, lazy days at the pool. For me though, the month of June is filled with melancholy for my daddy.
My Sweet Daddy’s birthday and Father’s Day are this month. I am missing him more than my written words can communicate.
He left us in 2018, and ever since then, I have worked to nurture the hole in my heart left by his passing. My Daddy was my Lamb, my Sweet Pea, my Honey, my Love, My Mentor, my Guide, my Supporter, my biggest fan, my Protector, and my favorite person on the planet! After many years of living out of state, my husband and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to come back to El Paso to be near Daddy, after my stepmom passed away.
During the many years we lived away, we made twice-yearly visits to see him and my other family living in El Paso. However, because things were always strained with my stepmom present, we kept the visits short. Then, my husband lost his job in Los Angeles, and, around the same time, my stepmom passed away.
» » » RECOMMENDED READ: A Year Without My Dad :: Lessons in Loss« « «
We temporarily went to El Paso to be with Daddy to help him out. And he convinced us to move back to live here. While I did not have any intention of ever moving back to El Paso, the offer to be near him was irresistible, and both my husband and I jumped at the opportunity.
Whether this was a coincidence or not, I was so ecstatic to have a chance to spend some real quality time with my Dad.
We planned on staying with Daddy for a couple of months while looking for homes to purchase. Daddy’s home was spacious and beautiful, and he insisted that we move in with him, instead. At first, we were hesitant but decided to do so. It ended up being one of the best decisions of my life, and my husband’s, too.
Already retired, Daddy awoke each day in an excellent mood, with a big smile on his face. He was always eager to go play tennis or golf, then a game of bridge or gin. He had his routine but kept his schedule flexible so that he could spend more time with us. We were also blessed to have Daddy’s sister, my Beloved Aunt living near us. So we all spent time together as a family.
As we began to reconnect with old friends and build new friendships, my sweet Daddy was always willing to take part in whatever we were going to do.
We had lunches, dinners, BBQs, went to movies, swam and played tennis, took road trips, had out-of-town guests, and traveled together. It was always the three of me: my Daddy, my hubby, and me… The three of us made such a dynamic team!
My Dad was almost a decade and a half older than my mom and was almost forty by the time I was born. Even though he was so youthful in attitude, energy, and looks, the fact remained that he was an older parent. Though technically his age was not an issue, he was approaching his 80’s when we moved back.
The thought of being in this world without my Beloved Daddy was terrifying to me.
It became real when a friend of the family said to me, “Romee, you know you are very lucky to have this special time with your Dad. Many of us are not given this extra time.” The reality of the situation hit me smack in the jaw, and it was then that I truly began to treasure every moment we spent together. This was a concept that I was only beginning to really understand as I began to mature. Thank goodness for that wake-up call. It really put things into perspective for me. I became aware of living in the present and embraced those moments as I was experiencing them.
So many extraordinary moments I can look back upon, spent with my Lamb, my Daddy!
It is these memories that I have left. While I may feel sad and miss my Daddy, sharing these stories helps me keep his memory alive!
Ultimately, it is our laughter and happy faces that penetrate the minds of our babies. And therefore, we have gotten to know him better as the vivacious and loving person he was.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
