Saturday August 23, 2014
TODAY would have been my Dad’s 86th birthday. He’s been gone a very long time, but his presence is still huge in my life.
Although my dad did all the normal DAD things – encouragement, discipline, lectures, stability, providing a home – what I remember most about my dad was his jovial spirit and sense of humor.
He could make anyone laugh, he could make friends in a heartbeat, and had been known on occasion to do the ‘Jackie Gleason’ impression. He was generous almost to a fault and always stayed in the background when he did help out or donate. The only people who knew that my dad was helping out were the ones he helped.
Other than being at our family cabin in HOME, PA, my dad’s first love was his horses. We had three during my teenage years: Li’l One, Dusty, and White Cloud. As you see by the photo, my sister joined Dad in the horse thing – I stuck with my car!
When Dad passed away, the lines at the funeral home were out the door – all evening, each evening. Support and comfort came from all directions, and it was a testimony to the man that my father was. So today I just wanted to stop in the middle of the crazy everyday ‘stuff’ and say ‘Happy Birthday, Dad.’ Here’s to your legacy!
TODAY would have been my Dad’s 86th birthday. He’s been gone a very long time, but his presence is still huge in my life. 
Beautiful post…lovely memory to share with others!
I have fun memories of your dad… “Uncle Cliff”. Although I remember being afraid of him a little bit when I was “little” only because he would try and “get” me when I would walk past him. Happy memories!