I accept he's long gone,
but I always miss him just a little.
He made me feel very safe and very special.
Yellow was his favorite color.
I learned to love yellow dresses and flowers
and ribbons in my hair.
He was exciting to be with,
always reaching out for the new and different.
My time with him was limited.
I never counted it in years or by worldly methods,
but by its influence on my heart.
He was simply woven in and out of perfect places in my life.
That is how I see it now.
I remember days when he spent a whole day with me.
He took me places to explore things.
He could do magic tricks, pulling quarters from the air.
He could dream big dreams and taught me how.
He always had a poem to share...or a funny story to tell;
and sometimes a spiritual truth to tuck away for keeping.
We laughed.
We talked.
We shared things.
He called me his "honeybear".
He was decorated with two U.S. Army Bronze Stars for his heroism that saved lives; and earned many other achievements in life for which he was very modest... He didn't talk a lot about them, but they were important to him; I loved his humility.
But of his most treasured achievements, if you could ask him, I think he would tell you, there were two: He was our dad...my dad. He always made me feel this way when I was with him. ...and he was also PLUTO in costume to many sick kids at Shiner's Hospital, which he loved.
I've always loved this picture of him.
I wasn't born when it was taken.
But it looks like the gentle side of
him that I remember.
It's in his eyes.
When I have a tough day, I look at him and he seems to say,
I know. I know.
Life brought us several unexpected partings.
When he had to go, it was sad.
But being his daughter? It was the best!
Maya Angelou had the perfect words. I'm sure she will forgive me for being inspired by them enough to edit them just a little for this tribute.
I don't remember everything he said; or much of what he did, but I do
remember how he made me feel during the perfect times we were blessed to be together.
Debbe
Debbe Kennedyfounder, president, and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies
Twitter: @debbekennedy @onlinedialogues
Book: Putting Our Differences to Work
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership, and High Performance
Learn more: www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
2010 Axiom Business Book Award Winner - Bronze
for Human Resources and Employee Training
