A recent visit to my dad's after he had been released from the hospital became a most emotional one. I love my dad, daddy as I once upon a time called him. He is and always will be my hero. As I sat on the back deck the morning we were to leave, I became teary-eyed at leaving him and mom behind. I wanted to curl into his lap as I did when I was his "little princess" and snuggle into his love.
I watched his hands and became facinated with them. He has strong hands, hands that lifted me as a child gently onto his lap, wiped tears from my eyes and tickled me into fits of laughter. Hands that also lifted heavy boxes in and out of his truck for the company he worked for during his forty some years of loyal employment. These hands twirled thumbs around and around as he spoke, reminding me of his mother, my precious grandmother who had done the same.
His loving hands not only worked to support his family, but they nurtured gardens, picked up small children and waved in the air as he spoke to make a point. They are strong, honest hands, hands you can trust for looking at them you know he is a hard working man of God.
As I stared, I found the tears hard to swallow and I told him in a shaky voice I didn't want to leave this day, but wished I could stay with him for awhile. I cried crock tears as I spoke my words of love and leaned in for a hug. His big hands enveloped his not so little girl and patted my back as he whispered his own endearments in my ear, words that will forever be engraved in the bed of my mind.
Wiping the tears from my eyes, I leaned back into my chair and became entranced with his hands once again placed on his lap while fingers twirled, and twirled in place. Family resemblance I thought to myself, from grandma to dad and possibly one day I shall find my own hands repeating the pattern of twirling thumbs.
I shall always be my daddies little girl and he will remain my hero.
I love you Daddy!
Teresa Gale
