Happy Birthday Daddy

Today is my Dad's birthday; a big birthday. I won't discuss the number because my Dad is a little sensitive about it. Truth be told, He looks amazing for his age, a good ten years younger than he actually is.
Thoughts of my Dad fill my head as I write. I am just so lucky to have him. When you think about it, we don't have a choice as to whom we are born to. Some of us may be not so lucky - but not me, I hit the jackpot. All his life, my Dad has been strong and athletic, a lover of all sports. He has four daughters, zero sons. When my youngest sister Melissa was born, I remember tears in his eyes as he told his three girls that they had another sister. I suspected my Dad was tearing up because he didn't get a son. Now I know better, he just adores his four daughters and wouldn't have it any other way.
My Father worked really hard to give us all that he could. He built houses during the day and would work at my Grandpa's nightclub at night during the week. We were little then, my sister Pam and I. Lori and Melissa were not born yet. We missed him terribly and couldn't wait 'til Daddy came home'. As exhausted as he was, he always had time for us. Pam and I would ride our stick horses and park them outside the bathroom door waiting for our Dad to come out of the shower, every couple of seconds asking if he was almost done. He didn't have a moment's peace.
Memories like this flood my head, too many to write about; like how my Dad took me to the toy store THE DAY the Barbie wedding dress came out and bought it for me. It was almost $5.00!! And that was an awful lot of money in those days. Then there was the time my Dad took me to his local pool hall where he was meeting his friends to play pool. I must have been all of four years old, and I could play pool 'cause he taught me. He made sure all his friends watched me play that day. I don't remember, but I'm sure they were impressed.
These are the things I remember, the good old days; the days that live on only in our heads now. The precious sweet memories of youth. Today we will celebrate my Dad's birthday; my Mom, my Sisters and I, our husbands and Kids, all of us together, the small dynasty, 23 in all, started by my Mom and Dad. I wish I could freeze time and wrap these people that I love up in a cocoon and keep them with me always.
I Love You, Daddy - Happy Happy Birthday