Lucky Dorito

During May, I enjoyed posting everyone’s *Mom-stories* in honor of Mother’s Day. Of course, that sparked the idea to do the same for June and Father’s Day. It wasn’t long after I suggested *Dad-stories* that the first one arrived in my inbox. My friend, Kansas Jen, (I call her that to keep from getting her confused with my other *Jennifer* friend, Two-N Jenn) sent the following. I absolutely LOVE that she included a picture too. I’ve only received a few *Dad-stories* so far – and there’s lots of month left… so send yours in if you’d like to participate! There’s still time!

*****

My dad, Robert, is a truly wonderful man. He is spontaneous, smart, and silly. He gets an idea in his head and he just runs with it. When I was a kid, we were always taking spur-of-the-moment vacations. I remember once, we were trying to decide what to eat for supper and someone mentioned that they wished the Spaghetti Factory in St. Louis was closer to home. Next thing we know, we are all in the car heading out on a 6 hour drive to St. Louis to eat. I went to summer camp the summer after 8th grade and when I came home, our house was sold. No one had mentioned moving before I left. (I was only gone 2 weeks!)

He has lived a life full of adventure. Born in Chicago, he quit school when he was in the 10th grade. He went to work for the railroad and soon after his 18th birthday, he joined the US Army. He was stationed in Korea and then returned to the US where he was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. He met my mother, a native Kansan, and they fell in love. They dated for only 3 months before they wed. They have now been married over 48 years. After leaving the military life, he became a fireman. I’ve always looked up to him for his dedication to saving lives. (Honestly, my admiration for his profession as a firefighter is likely what set the course for me to fulfill my dream of being an ER nurse.)

Even though he flies by the seat of his pants, one thing is constant: he is there for me. All my life he has been there for me – as a provider, as a friend, as a loan officer, as my handyman, as my counselor. He was a positive male role model to my oldest son when I was a young, single mother. He charged me rent after I graduated from high school as long as I was living in his house. I thought it was horrible that he made me pay to live in my room! I didn’t realize that he was saving all of my “rent” money for me to pay deposits on my own place when I decided to move out. I got every dime of my “rent” back. I was in awe of how he thought ahead for me.

Dad is now retired and enjoys spending time fishing. He has an amazing gift for fishing and a lot of my childhood memories involve the lake, fishing poles, and his boat. That is probably the reason that this photo is one of my favorites of him.

I’ve always been a daddy’s girl. To this day I believe the sun rises and sets with my father.

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