A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Dad Ireland! My ten-foot-tall and bullet-proof dad! Although the last few years have taken their toll on him, he'll always be my protector, provider and always loving dad. I can't believe he'll be 77 this year! It just seems like the time flies. I have the fondest memories of truckin' with him every summer when I was younger. Up until his stroke five years ago he was a truckin' fool. :) He was very fortunate to have worked for a company that didn't send him out for weeks at a time. He was home every few days, depending on the location and the load he had. I have SO MANY memories of visiting different places with him, probably the two most memorable were Edmonton, Alberta Canada and our 8 day trip thorugh the midwest and up into Detroit. On that journey we witnessed a tornado not too far off in the distance. SCARY! I NEVER want to see one of those again, EVER!
Other than trucking with him, I remember the times he was home to see me in a school play, a choir concert, or just being home for the holidays.
I have a lot of my dad in me. I'm very stubborn. I love to travel and I might add that I am a fantastic driver and map reader, if I do say so myself. :) And you can ask the man himself on that subject...he'll concur.
He's a great Grandpa to those three kids. He especially loves that little miss Brisa. He's just like Grandma...ever so patient to watch the SAME movies...over....and over....and over again. His patience does start to run thin though if the kids get too noisy or start bickering.
Speaking of bickering...it reminded me of a story that Amy and I laugh at to this day. I guess there was a trip that we were on as a family and Amy and I both were very young. Well, we had stopped at a travel station and we each wanted a little toy of some kind. So we purchased our new prized posessions and we piled back in the truck. Well not five minutes down the road and Amy and I were at it! We started bickering over our new things and Dad reached around into the back, grabbed both of them (still driving, by the way), rolled down his window and out they went! He said the crying was easier to take than the bickering. See, he was basically raised as an only child. He had one older sister that was born with mental as well as physical retardation and back in those days they just shipped them off to an institution. Well then he came along. After him they had another girl who was born with the same handicaps as the first daughter. So again, they shipped her off. After that, his mother died at a very young age. From stories told about her, I wish so badly to have known her. I guess I'll have that chance though someday. Anyway, then my grandpa remarried and they had a son but by that time my dad was quite a bit older and wasn't close to the new son. So he doesn't understand that siblings bicker. My husband being an only child doesn't understand that concept either. I"m working on that one...
My favorite memory of my Dad that he has told about himself is that when he was young, now remember how old he is...I'm talking WAYYYYY back when he was young, he and some friends decided that they would go skinny-dipping in the water tower. We're talking about rural Nebraska, one of those big water tanks that all the water to the house and property were pumped out of this water tank. Yeah...they skinny-dipped in the drinking water. That's my dad! LOL He's always been a character and he still is.
He has a caregiver that comes to their house every weekday and helps him with stretching and exercises and helps around the house. He gets around using a wheelchair or walker. It was so hard for me when he had his stroke...which was two months before my wedding (can anyone say STRESSED OUT BRIDE!!!!)...to see him go from "big trucker, protector, provider" to someone needing that much help. My sis, mom and I all had a very difficult time. BUT...the happy ending was that he was there to "wheel" me down the isle at my wedding, with the help of my dear brother-in-law. I will never forget the look on his face when he saw me in my wedding dress as I entered the isle...precious memories.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!! Oh by the way, his birthday is the 24th. We are heading out to Blackfoot, weather permittinng or not! Good thing I got my studded tires on!
And to all of you, my dear loved ones, A MERRIEST OF MERRY CHIRSTMASES! I love you all and I wish the Lord bless you and your families! Stay safe!
4 comments:
what a beautiful post!! i don't know if your dad reads your blog, but you should definitely print that and give him a copy. he will cherish it!
and i loved the story you shared about him, he is a quite a character! happy birthday rusty!
Oh Ann, that was an awesome read! He's lucky to have such a loving daughter too! You are so sweet and genuine!
Oh, Annie...that was so heart-felt. I just love you. I'm glad you have such a wonderful relationship with your Dad. My new motto is "No Regrets". I'm glad you already live that way.
Hey there Annie! I just love your dad and I know how special he is. The picture with the awesome post just made me cry! I will never forget seeing him at your reception. He's come SO FAR and that just makes me even happier for him and your family. I love you guys so much!!!!
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