Missing Daddy

It's October 16 and it's the first time that I can remember not talking to my Daddy on his birthday. Most of the time I was there with him and we'd go driving through the mountains looking at the fall colors. My favorite birthday with him was a few years ago. I had flown into Knoxville and rented a convertible to surprise him. It was the most beautiful trip. We drove the newly opened Cherohala Skyway (http://www.cherohala.com/), which is a road that basically goes from North Carolina to Tennessee through the middle of nowhere. And the scenery is incredible.

That road will always be "Daddy's Road" to me. He was working as a surveyor on the original road when I was just a few months old and we moved to the little town of Robbinsville. We stayed there even when the government stopped funding on that road because my oldest brother started school and Mama refused to move us around after that. So we stayed and Daddy worked away most of the time. But when I was in high school, they started to build the road again (with a slightly different route), and the best part was that Daddy came home to stay.

Here are some of my favorite memories with Daddy:

• Countless hours of sitting on the front porch working crossword puzzles.
• When I was in school, Daddy used to wake me up so sweetly; he'd quietly come in with my slippers that he'd warmed up by the heater and wake me with a gentle little rub on the back.
• On Thanksgiving when I was little, he'd wake me up before anybody else and we'd watch the Macy's parade together.
• I loved the way that he and I were always the last up from the dinner table--we both ate so slowly.
• When I would come home from college, he'd always have a country ham biscuit from Hardee's there waiting when I got up in the morning.
• When I changed my major from accounting to art in my Junior year of college, Daddy said, "Well honey, I'll support you in whatever you want do."
• I always loved to hear him play guitar.
• I loved the way he could always point out different mountain peaks and how he loved the stars and whippoorwills.
• I loved the way he always took care of the Rose of Sharon bush out in the front yard and was so proud of it's blossoms.
• I loved the way he always used to pick wild blackberries.
• He always sent greeting cards--that's so precious to me.
• Nobody could skip rocks across the water like Daddy could.
• Nascar Racing, the Yankees, and the UT Volunteers (I know Daddy's blood ran bright orange!). Daddy loved sports and I loved sharing that with him.
• I loved looking at maps with him.
• I loved the way he would always call me on Saturday morning; it was such a good way to start the weekend.
• I loved knowing that he loved me no matter what.
• And my very favorite thing was the way he called me "m'lis" is his soft Southern accent. I hope my heart never forgets that sound.

As I sit here remembering with tears and thankfulness, I'm realizing how much my Dad shaped who I am. I think he gave me so much that he never even realized, from his artistic eye to his love of words. My quiet mornings with him have translated into quiet mornings with my Heavenly Father, and I know that someday, we'll sit on his heavenly porch together again.

I miss you, Daddy. I'm glad I was there with you in the end, but I know you're in a much better place and you'll be there waiting for me when I get there. Thank you for all the love and memories. I'll forever be your little girl.