Orange Shirt Guy

Today, is my Dad's birthday.  Funny that even though he had to stop counting the additional years in 2004, I know that he'd be 88 today.  Over the past several years, I would quite like to have had his counsel on many items.  He was a great listener, good person, and not only did I love him, I liked him - he was a friend.

Below is a post that I wrote in 2006 that I am posting as an acknowledgment of his birthdate.

From September 1, 2006 (the original is over here)

Each year, I (literally) take thousands of photos.
I took the attached photo two years ago tomorrow. The quality stinks, the cropping is poor, the reason I took it is not quite known (even to me), but its importance is paramount.

8 seconds before this photo was taken, my wife had walked from the garage down to near where I was and advised me that my Dad had died.

She bore the news and before she got to me, our then-four-year-old son got it and got to her. He went to her with all available hugs and comprehension.

I still don't know exactly why I took this picture - my camera was close and something told me that I would want this years later -- and painfully sweet, I know that I was right. Picturing (literally, again) the hurt on my wife's face, the comfort to her from my son, and knowing the situation reminds me again and again what a phase life is.

I don't like interrupting a story-line, but two years ago as I was driving back to Indianapolis, I was listening to a CD that I had compiled just a few days before. Being in the state that I was, I was imagining that each song really meant something that my Dad wanted to say to either me or to someone else. In each song, I was able to apply meaning -- except one.

The one song that I could not give any justification was a Jimmy Buffett song -- "Permanent Reminder of a Temporary Feeling". The whole drive up, I could not figure out any of the lyrics that made sense. Each and every other song had a least one line that I was able to fit into something that he would want to say to either me or to Mom -- but not this one. Nothing would fit.

Years ago, knowing my affection and admiration for my Dad, I asked that should he die before me, would he mind giving me his wedding ring. I admired his love and givingness to my Mom and thought that I'd like a little of that passed on to me.

Driving back to Cincinnati the next day while wearing my now-given-to-me-from-my-Mom Dad's wedding band, I was again listening to the same CD in the truck when Track 6 came on. I got it when I heard Mr. Buffett sing, "What's this ring on my finger, what is its meaning?"

Contact from my dear old Dad. Dad 1, Dave 0.

Tomorrow, it will be two years later, time will have moved on. My mom still aches, I still miss my biggest fan, and this picture reminds it all to me.

Earlier today, I made jambayla.

After a year in the kitchen cooking for five, I've learned a few (keyword "few") things there. When I started cooking, I had – had - to have recipes, cookbooks, and measuring devices.

Now, I realize that (although it is ok to be left-brained about it) being right brained works well too.  I've learned that there is a bit of pride when I follow the recipe and the kids eat it and life is good.  And I've also learned that there is not just sustenance for the stomach, but also for my psyche when I cook from the right side of my brain - when I create a meal.

When I create a meal and the kids eat it - and they're not just being polite - then I know that I have fed two areas of need - stomachs and heart.

Over the past many months (ok years) I have been thinking that there must be some type of checklist, some type logical plan to follow to make one's (my) life great. 

        - Hug Family - Check
        - Make Money - Check
        - Feed Dog - Check
        - Make sure Life is Great - Hmmm.

And now, I realize that there is a release, a gift, and an improvement if I don't follow the directions, if I create-on-the-fly, if (crap, I have to write it) if I don't think logically - if I think with heart.

...crud, I don't think that I can turn this into a blog post because . . . 

Wait a second - I just thought about it more - there has to be a base plan - there has to be a base set of goals because the logical side of one's self has to start down the road, has to make the first step out of the muck, then the artistic side can jump on and ride along - and even drive every now and then.

Ohhh goood!!!  I feel like that is a significant key to life - get the logical self to make a plan - to make a list - to think that something should get done.  Write that plan down and then open it up to the artistic self . . . And move forward with confidence and heart.

And if it doesn't work, there is always cereal for dinner.