I had every intention to get this post up early.
This morning.
It's 8:35 p.m. now.
Time got away from me and I hadn't gotten to edit and crop my photos....well, better late than never!
That's my Dad, there in the picture above. Today is a special day. It's his big eight-oh....all day.
(He looks pretty danged great, doesn't he?)
(In his new Ray Ban glasses, looking all GQ.)
(80 is clearly the new 65.)
I have not a clue why, but I didn't get a single picture of us together. Actually, I didn't get any posed shots of anyone at the party.
(Next visit, Dad.)
(Here. In Portland.)
(Soon.)
Anyway...I got to fly to California this past weekend and surprise my Dad for a family dinner in his honor. (and you know how I love surprises!)
While it has been a stretch of time since we were together in person, my Dad and I talk, very nearly every Sunday morning, by telephone, at pretty much exactly 8:30 a.m, (like clock-work, as they say) but....It had been a while...far too long a while, since we had the opportunity to sit in the same room to visit. Schedules, distance..life gets busy, and before you know it, it has been three years.
I cannot tell you just how special my visit was with my Dad, because I cannot find big enough words.
The words that tell precisely how it feels when you see complete,total astonishment, and surprise, and joy, and love, on the face of someone you have loved your whole entire 55 years of life...and to realize that you alone made that look appear upon their face, just by you being there. There was not a dry eye in the house.
Happy, happy, happy, Birthday, Dad. I love you.
