Happy Fathers Day Dad

Today is the day to honor the fathers in our lives. I know some wonderful Father/Husbands out there and to you HAPPY FATHERS DAY! My Father is not here anymore to celebrate with. He died on March 14,2008. I still miss him very much so on this fathers day I am thinking of him. I am also thinking of my children, two of whom loved him very much and one who never got the chance to meet him.
When I think of him I am often very sad for them. My oldest son  never got to have his grandpa see him be a lead in his high school play, or watch him walk on graduation day. They were going to go to the Oprah together the year he died. They shared a love for music and theater. He missed him very much on those occasions. My daughter was grandpa's favorite. He took care of her when she was little and I had to work. He taught her to read. My dad was a volunteer at this is the place state park and she would go with him. She would always tell me when grandpa made her a tuna sandwiched. And they would go for walks together. She loved her grandpa very much. She also had the opportunity to go to her high school graduation this year. In memory of her beloved grandfather she wore a dog tag with a picture of the two of them together. On the back was written "grandpas favorite angel". That is what dad always called his grand kids. They were his little angels, and they all knew it.
Since his death I have given birth to another baby boy. It makes me sad for him to know that he will never get to go camping with grandpa, or listen to him tell "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" while sitting on his lap. I very good Friend of mine who was there at my side for his birth told me that she felt my father would be delivering this baby to me that day. I would like to think that that is true. I hope my father met and held my beautiful baby boy. I think he would like him very much. And it makes me sad to know what he is missing without his grandpa here.
I love my dad, and I miss not having him in my or my children's lives.

Here are some fun facts about my dad.
he was the youngest of two children (that lived to adulthood) both boys.
my dad is one of the best story tellers EVER! we would sit on his lap and listen to all kind of stories, but the favorite and most commonly told was The Three Billy Goat Gruffs.
Every year we would pack up the van and go on vacation to a national park of historic site. I have traveled to 49 states with my father. all of them in a car.(OK Alaska was a cruse. but we drove to Vancouver to catch the boat)
He had a great sense of humor and was always kind to people.
He spoke 3 different languages, usually all at the same time and when giving you directions when driving on vacation.
He loved his children and grandchildren very much.
Every anniversary and on valentines day my mom always got flowers.
My dad loved roller coasters. The year before his death we went to Virginia Beach and bush gardens. My dad road all the coasters with his grand kids
He would always tell us that japan surrendered during WWII because that is the date he received his draft notice and they didn't want him coming over there.
If you knew my dad, you loved my dad. If you never got the opportunity to meet him, you truly did miss out.