Remembering my Dad on Father's Day

How has it been 26 years?

My dad and I at Beach Haven New Jersey in the early 70s

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It’s been 26 years, Dad since we last spent Father’s Day together. It was 1998 and you were battling an aggressive cancer. You were taken away too young. The older I get the younger I realize you were. I was only in my 20s when you passed away. My view of life had changed. Nothing in life is guaranteed, except this exact moment we are in now

My dad holding my brother, next to him is my sister and I am the doting sister on the end

My Dad and I would clash sometimes

My dad and I would clash at times, as my sister would say. I seemed to push his buttons and he would push mine. I was creative and had an independent streak. My dad being a banker was more detailed oriented.

My dad coaching me as I played checkers with my big sister

My dad would make friends wherever he went

I have many fond memories of my dad. He would take us on many road trips and family vacations, twirl me around as I roller-skated our basement, he always would smile and was friendly to everyone he met. We used to joke with him and say that he would make a friend everywhere he went.

Dancing at my wedding

My relationship with my dad changed when I became an adult. He was the manager at our small-town bank and I was a hairstylist back then. We used to talk about work and business. We both would compare our interesting bosses. We both loved interacting with our clients through our work. We seemed to have found a common ground in life

Maybe I was more like my dad than I thought

I look back now and think maybe my dad and I weren’t that different from each other. We both enjoyed meeting new people, even though I was not an extravert like he was. My dad appreciated the smaller things in life and was never materialistic. I am like him in that way. I catch myself becoming a morning person like my dad was too. I became that way by default as a parent and coffee!! I'm sure my dad was probably a few cups into his Maxwell House or Folgers by the time the rest of our family woke up.

My dad before becoming a father of 3

Here are some photos of his younger days

Here he was in the Army and stationed in Arkansas

My dad in his college days playing football?! He was in a fraternity and he had a nickname of Ace! That used to boggle my mind as a child. My dad was in front row 2nd from right

Happy Father’s Day Dad!

Wishing all of the dads out there a happy Father's Day!