An Officer & A Gentleman

It’s long over due to pay special tribute to my Dad who had such a huge impact in my life.
His special manner of reserved, quiet dignity & the way he lived & carried himself always spoke volumes to me of a true Gentleman, a man of honor & of the highest character.
I was always so proud & supremely blessed by the time he would take to spend with me.
When I came along, the little family was really rooting for a boy, (they even had a boy’s name all picked out) & so, it was a shock, to say the least, when I came barreling into their world.
Not to worry, my Dad rallied & I became the tomboy he hadn’t seen coming!
We went on weekly walks & long hikes collecting driftwood & shells, he taught me how to ride a bike, play competitive tennis, throw a fast ball, mow a lawn, map out a plan to sell the most Girl Scout cookies in our community, drive a stick shift at age 12, develop my love of writing & got me my first job in sixth grade, as a check-stand bagger/box-girl at ‘Toyland’ at the Navy Exchange. I loved it there & have never been more proud of my work! We went to work together over my school vacations & as he went off to his office as Procurement Supervisor, I went to my check-stand. Nothing could have made either of us prouder.
Thru him, I learned my work ethic & of always, always staying the course.
When I filled both sides of my Girl Scout sash with patches, he was there - smiling,
when I played in tennis tournaments, he was there - cheering, when I attempted to speak only in French on the weekends, he was there - chuckling, when I graduated from College, he was there - beaming. Thru all my victories & defeats, he was there - standing in my corner.
Thru out my life, he provided a steadfast calm & unwavering show of strength & class, my mighty oak, never wanting or requiring any fanfare, special attention or fuss made over him. He was my quiet cheerleader, always rooting for me, believing in me & was most content to encourage & stand tall behind the scenes - where I always looked for him.
Now, whenever I smell fresh mown grass or night blooming jasmine - I’m instantly taken back to warm summer evenings long ago, when a kind-hearted Father took the time to play catch, back & forth across the street long into the night, with his youngest daughter.
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So here’s to my humble hero - the world has so few,
For giving, teaching & showing me - always in the quietest of ways,
Life’s most powerful & noble lessons…

Here’s To You, Dad