Dad's Birthday

Today would have been my sweet dad's 71st birthday.  He was barely 69 when he went away... Another 71 years with him here on earth wouldn't have been enough.  I'm so thankful that I'll have 71 years over and over with him when I see him again.

Surprising dad on his birthday was always a stuggle.  He was rarely surprised and usually bought for himself what he wanted before we kids could get to it---usually a book or tool of some sort.  One of the favorite birthday gifts I gave him was when I was still married and my, then, husband and I gave him season tickets to Marshall University football games.  He was excited and so were we.  I always looked forward to going to the games with him.  After my marriage ended, Dad made sure to be my date, along with my girls, to the Marshall games. What a Dad!

Now, I feel his presence so often and know that I'm the one receiving the gift...

I heard Jewel perform this song soon after Dad died and thought it was the most amazing interpretation of the feelings trapped in my broken heart.

September settled softly

Leaves are starting to fall

I recall, the last time you were here

your laughter a melody that lingers still.

There's a hole in my heart

and I carry it wherever I go

Like a treasure that travels with me down every road

There's this longing lonesome deep

Kind of bitter, kind of sweet

There's a hole in my heart in the shape of you

Time stealing swiftly

As children having children of their own

And around life's merry-go-round goes

And there you are wanting what you cannot hold

There's a hold in my heart

And I carry it wherever I go

Like a treasure that travels with me down every road

There's this longing, lonesome deep

Kind of bitter, kind of sweet

There's a hole in my heart in the shape of you

Even though my heart aches

There's a smile on my face

Just like a window to heaven

There's a light shining through

There's a hole in my heart

So I'll carry it wherever I go

Like a treasure that travels with me down every road

There's this longing lonesome deep

Kind of bitter, kind of sweet

There's a hole in my heart

There's a hole in my heart

There's a hole in my heart in the shape of you