Happy Father’s Day to two men who were good examples of what being a father, husband, and grandfather was all about…not being perfect, but being present.

Father’s Day carries on a new meaning for me. First it was my dad who passed away April 2003. I realized at the point I really didn’t appreciate my dad. He was a man of little frills. He loved his family, worked hard to supply our needs (not so much wants). When we took trips they were always long ones, not 1 week but usually 3. He had a green thumb. He liked to have a garden, so he could putter, he was always puttering. He would putter on his cars which he had several…all named. He had Evenrude, a blue Ranchero, then there was Buttercup, a yellow Ranchero, then there was a blue ford pickup and I think was Big Blue. He loved his vehicles.

I had the grand joy of driving Buttercup once, 8 months pregnant, trying to get to a doctors appointment on base in Rapid City. To top it off Dad didn’t tell me the gas gauge didn’t work so on the way to my appointment the car ran out of gas. Yep, 8 months pregnant, on the highway, completely stuck. This was way before cell phones. I was not a happy camper with my dad. The one time he LET me drive one of his cars and it runs out of gas…oh and the gear shift was on the steering wheel, so I had to try to suck my stomach in as I shifted….ever try doing that 8 months pregnant. Not one of my dad’s finer, or smarter moments. How did I get to my appointment?.. I ended up getting in a car with a man, stranger danger, yet he was an angel sent by God…honestly. He was so nice…kept a bible sitting on the seat between us, had scripture versus all over the inside of his car…yep, angel. He dropped me off at the front gate. Mom had to leave work to come get me after my appointment. Never wanted to drive one of his putter vehicles again…My husband wasn’t very happy hearing this story, while in bootcamp in San Antonio, TX. He was a little outraged…to say the least. But I survived and Jesus was with me.

Now my husband, who’s no longer with us. He too was a hard worker, wanted to provide for his family the best he knew how. He did want to supply needs, and wants. He loved his kids way more than he knew how to express it at times. ….and then there were grandkids. One thing he discovered with grandkids, he could be one of them and not get in trouble. Yep….he could act like a kid…do all the things he couldn’t with his own kids because he felt freer to be crazy, funny, do stupid stuff…cause it made them laugh.

There are many facets to Mike….he was happy, sad, mad, tired, burned out, loved, loving, compassionate, extremely giving of self, very passionate about his family, loved the Lord with all his soul, heart, and mind. He liked having fun and was very spontaneous with his humor. He knew how/when to make me laugh, I’m talking the true, deep, fulfilling laugh. Mike was an extremely extroverted person, he was charged by people…the more he was around, the more he was charged (or some would say overstimulated). It was really hard for him to power down….he didn’t know the word quiet, when he was in a room one knew it…because of that energy, his presence was evident. Mike was an early riser. I always knew when he was up and moving because he made noise every where he went. He loved music…all genres…during his life on earth he played many instruments, tuba, french horn, trumpet (my favorite), guitar, some piano (self taught) and he sang…not professionally but with/from his heart. Mike had his problems, weakness’, downfalls, battle with depression….and his family (me, and my kids) diagnosis just a little OCD about some things. He had family challenges which he faced head on….there was very few gray areas for him…it either was or wasn’t, all or nothing, go big or go home. He was a great negotiator, communicator…there were few topics he wouldn’t tackle…although fasting food was something he had a hard time doing (this man loved food…all kinds, the spicier the better). But all of these is what made Mike who he was.