Have a little site on the web honoring those that came before me and today happens to be my Dad's birthday. Dad went "home" in 1980 and not a day goes by that I don't think about him or miss him terribly. Did this really quick today in GIMP for the site - it's not perfect but it showcases my Dad and, to me, he was perfect.

Very nice Dalia. My dad passed in 1986 of cancer. He was only 48. Miss him terribly.

Dalia it is beautiful what you have done and your words to him. You give him a wonderful gift each day as you have him in your mind with so much love. You have moved me.
God bless you

Oh Warrior how young. Although the years have passed those days before, during and after are etched in our minds and hearts. As I'm sure you do - I relive wonderful memories with him. Like the time I was about nine and I wanted to brew a fresh pot of coffee for him. He was so proud that I was doing this for him. I poured him a cup and noticed - whoa! - there's more grinds than coffee. I added milk and swore that he would ditch it. He sat there and sipped it occasionally wiping the grains from his lips. Dad drank (what he could drink) the whole cup and then announced it was the best cup of coffee he had ever had.

...off I go with tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face...

Very nice tribute, Dalia.

My father had a tremendous impact on my life and I lost him in 2002, so I know how you feel.

That is very beautiful Dalia.

Nice what's the site?

Thank you Issabella for your words - he was a wonderful father - I'm so lucky; yes, present tense - I have so much to be thankful for even to this day because of him. None of it in material things but because of his heart and his great compassion.

GnuTux - often we hear more about our dear mothers; I'm so happy that in this post people are remembering their amazing fathers.

molly - thank you for your words.

trandoductin, it's a genealogy page - I've worked on it since 2001. Needs a lot of work (updating my self taught html coding) Since my last update I've been able to trace my ancestors on my father's side to 1527.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.anc ... /index.htm

He was young. He passed two days after my 23rd birthday. At 23, I knew it was young, but after I turned 48 a few years ago myself, I realized how devastatingly young it really was. I relive the memories often. My dad was a big guy, at 6'4", 250 lbs. He usually donned a beard and mustache, and my friends were all scared of him when we were little, haha. Later, they would bring phone books, or catalogs over, and he would rip them in half for them. He worked as a lineman, and used to grab the transformers out of the back of the truck, and sit them down by himself. They weigh nearly 500 lbs. He was incredibly strong. He was known for it in the area. What a great guy he was. Although he was big, he was great to everyone. He was very soft hearted, and would feel sorry for people that didn't have much, and give them stuff. You were talking about the coffee, and it reminded me that my dad loved those cheesecakes out of a box, and I would make them for him all the time. Yep, I sure do miss him. He didn't get to see me get married, see my son, etc.

I thought I'd post this tune I wrote just after my father passed away from cancer. He was a musician, as well. I hope you enjoy the song and you take something away from it that you can relate to your father.

I'll See You Again

I always knew one day I would have to say goodbye.
And when I see your face, it makes me break down and cry.
All the things you did with one single thought in mind.
Anything to help, you know that you were one of a kind.

And when you closed your eyes forever, I knew you weren't really gone.
You live right along with the notes I play in each and every song.
And I'll see you again someday and you'll pickup your guitar and play.
When the angels come to bring me back to you one day.

I know you didn't want to leave this world so soon.
But the words you wrote, we will forever sing in tune.
And I'll live my life the way that you would want me to.
My only hope is that I can be just like you.

And when you closed your eyes forever, I knew you weren't really gone.
You live right along with the notes I play in each and every song.
And I'll see you again someday and you'll pickup your guitar and play.
When the angels come to bring me back to you one day.

The values you instilled in me cleared my mind, now I can see.
The truth is in who we are, not what we appear to be.

And when you closed your eyes forever, I knew you weren't really gone.
You live right along with the notes I play in each and every song.
And I'll see you again someday and you'll pickup your guitar and play.
When the angels come to bring me home to you someday

Click The Play Button

Direct Link (c) Music//Lyrics/Recording
(Registered LOC - All Rights Reserved)

Thanks to..
Ray Clubb - Guitar & Vocals
Paul Jansen - Bass
Al Bruder - Drums
GnuTux - Keyboards

Warrior, thank you for sharing your wonderful memories of your Dad - I hope it warms your heart in recounting the good memories.

Having said that, I feel your yearning - my Dad didn't physically walk me down the aisle, he was gone - he didn't see my children. I'll tell you an amazing (and maybe not so amazing) happening. I had my daughter first and she turned out to be the spitting image of her father. When I was carrying my second child I found out it was a boy. My one and only thought when I found out was, well if my daughter looks like her dad my son will too. I had my son - and in my drowsy, stupor I heard my Mom coming into the room where I was recovering and the only thing I heard her say was, "...he looks just like your father." Every time I look at my son, it is like looking at a younger version of my Dad - not only did he get his looks but he got his compassionate heart as well.

GnuTux!!!! What a beautiful, beautiful song - the words, the melody. I'm sitting out on my patio and your song is playing loud and proud. What an amazing way of honoring your Dad.

Thank you again for sharing.

Thanks, Dalia. It sounds like your Father was a great person and I'm inspired by your memories of him.

Seems to me GnuTux that your Dad was an amazing individual as well. Maybe, just maybe, your Dad, mine and Warrior's are all looking down and smiling today. Wouldn't that be something?

Wonderful tribute Dalia. This will be the first year that I don't get to celebrate Father's Day with my Dad and it definitely hurts. To all those that still have Dad's here, don't forget Father's Day and if you do have the ability to actually spend time with your Dad, do so; you won't regret it.

lylejk, my most heartfelt sentiments are with you. Those first years are so difficult - holidays, birthdays - I won't go on. It doesn't really get better but it does change. I swore it would never change - there will always be that yearning but eventually the memory of the horrible day dissipates - we replace it to celebrate the amazing individual and the memories and lessons they gave us.

I have sort of fondness for Lylejk's dad, as he was the subject of many gimp efforts posted here.

What a wonderful topic!
It makes all of us become reconcilied to our life.
A deep feeling of love, of gratitude, of interior peace and serenity.
Thanks for all those nice words.
Thanks especially to Dalia, who initiated these memories.
God bless all of you and your fathers (certainly He blessed your fathers,
capable of arousing and maintaining such innermost thoughts in his children's heart).
Life is alive, beyond the (apparent) bridge of the death.

Few years Dahlia. I started one a while back but decided I could not afford to go all out and spend a lot of money to get the information I needed so gave up. Good to see you haven't.