Dad felt like a soft breeze, a hug, a kind word. He treated me as though I was a precious, beautiful offering. With him, I felt safe and loved. I have very dark eyes which he called black cherries, but it was his dark eyes that bespoke everything.

He was thoughtful, calm, reasonable; gentle when sharing difficult news – enthusiastic when sharing happy news. We had a father-daughter language which emanated directly from our hearts. We did not work to develop this, it was an ability given at birth.

Life became difficult when Dad and Mom split. I knew it wasn’t my fault as I was told this often, but egocentric children make everything their own. I felt responsible, fogged as I was in some vague, opaque mist. However, walking with the sadness availed me a depth of awareness that I shall forever be grateful to have received. I was buoyed (catapulted?) to another level of existence that began formulating the person I’ve become.

I could not have asked for a better father, he brought me Lil and my brothers. He taught me to ski, tie a boat to a cleat and drive one through a hurricane. He asked what happened to the other 2 points when my test grade was 98. He visited me in college on a motorcycle, and made me listen to the best jazz jams, on reel to reel tapes, I ever heard.

My father taught me, through word and action, what commitment looks like. It has been my honor to know him, love him and be loved by him. I wish him peace, abundance and song, and know he sings freely now, in that wonderfully out of pitched voice. I wish him strength and offer him mine. Thank you, Dad, for the explanations, adventures, lessons and love. I will never forget you.