I Miss You Daddy!

I miss this wonderful man every day and never more so than on Father's day.

He left home at a mere 20 years old and saw horrors of war I cannot even imagine. He came home from the German POW camp a changed man but grateful and proud to be an American. He was able to put aside his feelings about his treatment and go on to make a wonderful life for himself, meet the love of his life and have a beautiful family. He even went to so far to later buy two Volkswagens ("the people's car). He knew how to separate politics from people. I loved and respected him for that.

I cannot emphasize how idyllic my childhood was. My mom used to joke with my sister and me that no matter what my dad did we would always take his side. I guess that's what happens when you treat your girls like princess'.

Much of my dad's happiness came from the fact that he truly loved and adored this woman. They were a perfect match for each other. He was patient, kind and always loving. She was driven, outgoing and full of life. My sister and I always joked that we were brought up at Disneyland because we honestly never heard a cross word uttered between the two of them.

My dad truly relished in all things "Dad" related. One of my favorite memories was one Christmas when it had been particularly hectic for him both at work and at home as my mom had decided all of the relatives should come to our house for Christmas. That always meant a sort of "all hands on deck" mentality for us, especially Daddy. That year for Christmas I received Barbie's College Dorm room. It coincided with my sister heading off to her own college dorm that year. As with anything Babrie related, it came with a million pieces. My dad sat on the floor of my bedroom with me for that entire Christmas afternoon putting it all together for me. As the relatives arrived, much to my mother's chagrin, they had to come to my room if they wanted to see my dad. My dad was a man's man and always one of the guys so this was not a side of him many of the guys in our family were used to seeing. He just smiled, put the Barbie bed together and said "this is what my Gaye wants and today I am here for her". I have never forgotten that special time we shared.

I love that people say we look alike, big nose and all. My dad always said, "you know what our last name spells backwards, NOSBIG, you were always destined for a big nose, Gaye Gibson".

Not surprisingly Daddy went on to be the best grandfather ever - known by his four angels as Papa!



I love this picture in Colleen's backyard in about 1995. It was Easter and Andrew was scoring big time in the annual Easter egg hunt. Papa decided on his own to take one of the plastic eggs and place a $5 bill inside. He then hid the egg and directed Laura right to it. I cannot believe I captured the exact moment Laura found the egg and Andrew realized he had been out foxed!
















Another of my favorite memories is when Daddy spent nearly six months working on a doll house for Laura for Christmas. She loved this gift and has it to this day.

Most of all I miss this wonderful man every day and am so grateful for the wonderful dad that he was and remains in my heart!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!