Daddy and I had been making our way together on our own for over a year after Momma had died. Learning to take care of each other, as well as the house and all of the duties that come along in life were overwhelming at times, and more often than not were down right funny.
I will never forget the amount of planning for our covert operation "Laundromat" after we had gone weeks without washing a load of clothes at home. Daddy going to the bank to withdraw some money, then heading to different coin operated car washes to get quarters, so as not to raise suspicion by getting rolls of quarters from the bank or all from a single location. We carefully plotted out the laundromat least likely used by church members, but still within 25 miles from home, one open 24hrs, so we would have the cover of night to sneak out 22 loads of dirty clothes, and return with 22 loads of clean clothes without the watchful eyes of neighbors.
Our weekly "find the fudge" hunt, matched our wits against each other, as Daddy would make fudge while I was at school, clean up all of the evidence, and hide it somewhere in the house. My keen sense of smell, and love of Daddy's fudge, never failed to find it within an hour of walking in the door . . . even though Daddy never made the fudge on the same day of the week . . .
Late into the night after dinner we would sit at our little kitchenette table playing game after game of Rook or Uno, to see who ultimately would have to do the dishes, Daddy marveled at how much better my card game skills were then as opposed to any other time of playing.
During my lunch hour from school, Daddy would often pick me up to go and eat with him at a favorite diner, where salads with Catalina Dressing and the best BBQ beef sandwiches gave us both a lift and kept us going through hospital and nursing home calls we would make in the evenings together.
Sleepless nights were filled with Daddy working on his sermons and I on my homework, taking time out only for 3:00am feasts of fried potatoes and pork chops.
Food wasn't just for us, we always fed the squirrels and the pigeons every morning and late afternoon with black walnuts and pecans we would hammer open so our little guests wouldn't have to work for the nutty meat. The squirrels would thank us by sitting on our back steps wiggling their noses and swooshing their tails, while the pigeons would thank us by going 3 houses up the street to use the bathroom instead of on our roof and car.
Still . . . there was an emptiness in our home that couldn't be filled by just our love for each other.
While most of my high school friends spent time dating and worrying their parents, I didn't date . . . but spent time worrying about Daddy while he dated. The role reversal tended to make us both giggle, and make gossiping tongues wag, but we knew God was in control.
One very special day, Daddy came home, and showed me a little box with the most beautiful diamond ring inside. It sparkled in the kitchen light, but it's glimmer was out shown by the twinkle in Daddy's eyes. Daddy and I were the only brown-eyed members of our family, and Momma had told me once that it takes a lot to make brown eyes shine. I knew before he spoke the words that he was head-over-heels in love. Her name was Donnie, and she was to be his new bride. The shine in his eyes made me know what her answer would be even before the question was asked.
The whirlwind of wedding plans, and traveling across the U.S. and back left me exhausted and feeling alone. Our home and life together would once again be changed and the struggles and adjustments would be hard. Still, their wedding date of February 14th, made me smile and chuckle to myself as to just how giddy and romantic Daddy was.
It wasn't until years later that it hit me that Daddy wasn't just thinking of himself and Donnie and how much in love that they are, but he was showing me just how very much he loved me by giving me A Very Special Valentine, the gift of Donnie, My Most Beautiful Mother. His gift has given me more joy, comfort, laughter, and love than I could ever have imagined possible.
For years there has been a secret, just between Daddy and I. On every February 14th when I call to wish Daddy and Donnie a Happy Anniversary, I can hear the twinkle in his eyes, as he says "I love you Debbie, and I know you love your Valentine."
I love you Donnie!
Your Daughter,
Debbie
I will never forget the amount of planning for our covert operation "Laundromat" after we had gone weeks without washing a load of clothes at home. Daddy going to the bank to withdraw some money, then heading to different coin operated car washes to get quarters, so as not to raise suspicion by getting rolls of quarters from the bank or all from a single location. We carefully plotted out the laundromat least likely used by church members, but still within 25 miles from home, one open 24hrs, so we would have the cover of night to sneak out 22 loads of dirty clothes, and return with 22 loads of clean clothes without the watchful eyes of neighbors.
Our weekly "find the fudge" hunt, matched our wits against each other, as Daddy would make fudge while I was at school, clean up all of the evidence, and hide it somewhere in the house. My keen sense of smell, and love of Daddy's fudge, never failed to find it within an hour of walking in the door . . . even though Daddy never made the fudge on the same day of the week . . .
Late into the night after dinner we would sit at our little kitchenette table playing game after game of Rook or Uno, to see who ultimately would have to do the dishes, Daddy marveled at how much better my card game skills were then as opposed to any other time of playing.
During my lunch hour from school, Daddy would often pick me up to go and eat with him at a favorite diner, where salads with Catalina Dressing and the best BBQ beef sandwiches gave us both a lift and kept us going through hospital and nursing home calls we would make in the evenings together.
Sleepless nights were filled with Daddy working on his sermons and I on my homework, taking time out only for 3:00am feasts of fried potatoes and pork chops.
Food wasn't just for us, we always fed the squirrels and the pigeons every morning and late afternoon with black walnuts and pecans we would hammer open so our little guests wouldn't have to work for the nutty meat. The squirrels would thank us by sitting on our back steps wiggling their noses and swooshing their tails, while the pigeons would thank us by going 3 houses up the street to use the bathroom instead of on our roof and car.
Still . . . there was an emptiness in our home that couldn't be filled by just our love for each other.
While most of my high school friends spent time dating and worrying their parents, I didn't date . . . but spent time worrying about Daddy while he dated. The role reversal tended to make us both giggle, and make gossiping tongues wag, but we knew God was in control.
One very special day, Daddy came home, and showed me a little box with the most beautiful diamond ring inside. It sparkled in the kitchen light, but it's glimmer was out shown by the twinkle in Daddy's eyes. Daddy and I were the only brown-eyed members of our family, and Momma had told me once that it takes a lot to make brown eyes shine. I knew before he spoke the words that he was head-over-heels in love. Her name was Donnie, and she was to be his new bride. The shine in his eyes made me know what her answer would be even before the question was asked.
The whirlwind of wedding plans, and traveling across the U.S. and back left me exhausted and feeling alone. Our home and life together would once again be changed and the struggles and adjustments would be hard. Still, their wedding date of February 14th, made me smile and chuckle to myself as to just how giddy and romantic Daddy was.
It wasn't until years later that it hit me that Daddy wasn't just thinking of himself and Donnie and how much in love that they are, but he was showing me just how very much he loved me by giving me A Very Special Valentine, the gift of Donnie, My Most Beautiful Mother. His gift has given me more joy, comfort, laughter, and love than I could ever have imagined possible.
For years there has been a secret, just between Daddy and I. On every February 14th when I call to wish Daddy and Donnie a Happy Anniversary, I can hear the twinkle in his eyes, as he says "I love you Debbie, and I know you love your Valentine."
I love you Donnie!
Your Daughter,
Debbie
Deb, what a beautiful tribute to your relationship with dad and his introduction of Donnie to our lives. I love you Sissy!
ReplyDeleteThat is just grand! What a touching and lovely testimony. Love, Daniel
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie for the past memories. It is now 30 years since that wonderful, happy day.
ReplyDeleteThough it has now been 3 years since he passed on the be with Jesus, he will forever be loved and in my heart.
I love you and the family your Dad gave me. Donnie