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Father's Day is coming up Sunday, June 21, 2020. I lost my daddy 13 years ago and not a Father's Day, or any holiday for that matter, goes by where I don't think of him!

I was always the quintessential daddy's girl. My dad hung the stars and the moon. He served his country as retired as a Lt. Col from the United States Air Force. He was already highly educated, but he went back to school after his retirement and began a second career as an accountant. Even as an adult, if I had a big decision to make, I always made sure to bounce ideas/solutions off of my dad. Even now, I think about what my dad would say when faced with a fork in the road.

I lost my dad pretty publicly. I'll never forget, it was two days before my wedding, my parents had come down for the festivities from Ohio and I got that life-changing call that my father had had a massive heart attack while I was at work during my final morning show before I took off for my nuptials. Now my mother lives here in Louisiana and I'm divorced.

The death of my father rocked my world. While we went forward with the wedding, I won't lie, I was numb and it was all kind of a blur. I know now that I was deeply depressed for months after. I used to mark all of the big occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, major holidays, etc... It was like I planned to be sad. Eventually, I figured out that these were times to celebrate his life and that he was such a huge part of my own, not a time to mourn. Now, I always make sure to say hi to dad as I pass by Hill Crest in Haughton, LA and tell him I love him.

My father remains the most influential man in my life and no man has ever been able to quite measure up. I hold the memories of my dad close. Who can forget watching Deep South Wrestling with dear ol' dad on Saturdays? Or how he used to let me stand on his feet as we'd dance and how he would brush my hair until it dried after bath time. I'd sit in front of his chair while he'd comb my hair for what had to be at least an hour while we'd watch TV. I remember how excited he used to get on Tuesdays for his trip to Best Buy. Movies were his thing later in life as his illness restricted his physical activity. I still have boxes and boxes of VHS tapes and DVDs that I can't bear to give away.

We had a mutual love of music and I remember when I introduced him to Norah Jones and when we'd sing at the top of lungs to Cracklin' Rosy or when he'd counsel me to be kinder to my mother. (We butted heads like all moms and teenage daughters do!)

So as we go about celebrating the great fathers in our lives, I'll be remembering my father with love, pride, and gratitude. Even though our time was cut short, I was so blessed to have him in my life. I love you, Dad!

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