goings on

April has been rather eventful so far, in a laid-back kind of way. I went to Ashdown to visit with Mom - we shopped, went out to Arden (where I got the van stuck in the mud at the cemetery - lucky we have relatives with tractors!), and watched "Enchanted" among other generally fun things together. The next week-end, I headed up to Pokey to visit the Tuckers. We had fun (watched "Enchanted" again), went to Jonesboro (Lowe's, the Mall, Whole Hog, ice cream), enjoyed our time together.

April 9th marked the day that, in 1998, my dad passed away. 10 years. My dad was the best dad. He made a yummy chocolate mousse in May 1993 - he had lost his job and was at home searching for another. Since Mom was in the end-of-the-school-year-mode, Dad cooked dinner and even made a great dessert. He was also the chef that made our white cake supreme birthday cakes each year (Mom was the expert 7-minute-frosting-maker). And I can't forget the time he made dinner - a one-casserole-dish. Mom asked if we needed rolls. "Nope - it's in there." Vegetable? "Nope - it's in there." Salad? "Nope - it's in there." What else? Here are some of my random memories:

• Dad wasn't very talkative but when he talked, you listened.
• He was extremely patient - he often, very often, waited on "his girls" - in the bathroom, getting ready for church, etc. He would get frustrated at times, though.
• He was always so proud of us - no matter how awful we looked in those awkward years.
• Dad kept this little black comb in his front pocket sometimes - so he could comb his hair (especially useful on those windy days).
• He loved ice cream - vanilla. That's why he got lots of gift certificates to Baskin-Robbins. And he could bite into an ice cream cone.
• We always enjoyed laughing at him when he washed the windshield - his tongue would stick out to the side.
• I always thought he looked nice - no wearing his pants down low under the big belly sticking out. He was good at shining shoes and kept his looking good. He was especially handsome on August 14, 1993 when he wore a tux for Laura's wedding. I thought he was, by far, the most handsome man there.
• He was really good at listening - must have been all that practice.
• He was always trying out new pieces of luggage since he traveled so much. We never ran out of shampoo - he always brought home the ones from the hotels.
• He called every night - no matter where he was or what time it was. That meant, on occasion, he got to just listen to us breathe and hang up on him (we were asleep). Luckily, he knew that meant we were okay - just tired.
• He eventually gave up trying to get into the master bedroom closet - it only opened on one side anyway. He bought himself a freestanding closet that went on HIS side of the room and pretty much covered up the window.
• He showed us how to run backwards (luckily he had a cap on that somehow protected his head when he fell down).
• He taught us to drive a stick shift (bless his patient little heart).
• He bought us nice jewelry (like the watch that I still wear!)
• Those fried chicken strips with curry gravy.
• That cute grin.
• We couldn't go to bed without Cheerios, milk, bananas, and coffee.
• His sipping coffee in bed (Mom was the early bird). He's just sit there, sipping coffee until it was gone. Then he'd get up. On Saturdays, after breakfast, he'd usually go back to bed.
• He always insisted that we go on a vacation every summer - and we did!
• His ever-changing vehicles from work - trucks, station wagons full of "stuff" and with that white powder from the plant (that also showed up on his work boots).

I miss you Dad.