Saturday, February 11, 2012

First Valentine


 I have a picture that was taken when I was six years old.  I remember the day, at least in the way anyone can remember forty years past.  My dad had just taught me my very first song, ‘Lovesick Blues’ by Hank Williams, and told me if I kept practicing, I could be a professional yodeler someday.  In the picture, he is sitting in a chair and I have my arms around his neck.  He always had a way of making me feel special.
 

I have another, taken when I was twenty.  There was a party going on, I don’t remember the occasion, but he and I had ended up in the kitchen, away from the crowd, having a drink and telling each other jokes.  He made fun of my boyish haircut.  I called him Sonny Bono.  He’s sitting in a chair and I have my arms around his neck.  He always had a way of letting me know that he loved me.


The night before he died, he told me how proud he was that I had grown into a good mother. A good woman.  I put my arms around his neck.  I remember it well.  I don’t need a picture.
 

It has been twelve years and Valentine’s Day has never been the same.  It was his birthday and this year would have been his seventy-fourth.  If he were still here, we'd have a drink and tell a few jokes.  He would make me yodel for him and I would make fun of him for being so old.  Then I would walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his neck.
 

I still think of him every single day.  My father, my daddy, my friend...

My first valentine.








8 comments:

Loree Huebner said...

Beautiful tribute to your dad. He is proud of you!

Jen Boissonneault said...

Wonderful story Kelly, thanks for sharing. :)

beth said...

Aww...Kelly, you made me cry. I'm sorry, my friend. He's watching over you still and thinking how proud he is that you grew up to be the wonderful woman you are. I'm sure he knows it wasn't easy. Yodel on, baby girl!

Amberr Meadows said...

It's so hard to lose someone so wonderful in your life, I know. This was very touching account of your special memories. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Suzanne Shumaker said...

What a sweet tribute to your dad.

Anonymous said...

What an Awesome Man He was and it is clear that you got every awesome attribute He had. I will never forget 'My Daddy Donuts", and thank you for sharing him with me . I loved him very much. It's so nice to hear your thoughts and feelings. I love You very much too ! XO Carrie

Anonymous said...

Kelley, you are so good at what you do! You have given my brother a beautiful tribute on the 74th anniversary of his birth!!( you know he had another birth certificate that sid he was born one year earlier) that would have been a good one because Mom and Dad had only known each other for three months and were married on Feb. 9th 1937! I miss him too!!!!

Toby Neal said...

This is utterly moving, Kelly, especially for someone like me who was never her daddy's valentine. I always wished I was.
Treasure your memories. They're more than many of us have.
Aloha
Toby
http://www.tobyneal.net/