Someday...

"Daddy always smiled, took me by the hand, saying someday, you'll understand." - CCR If there's one thing I learned from my Dad in the 11 years I was fortunate enough to know him, it's the value of humor and the power of one's words. Ok, that's two things and I'm sure I learned many more in those short years. It was the summer of 89' and after rounds of chemo, radiation and surgery, there was only time left. My dad packed us up and we spent the entire summer camping throughout Washington and Oregon state. It was the summer I almost got my first kiss, (or maybe I just wished for it.) It was also the summer I got one of many of my nicknames, Malibu, from a bunch of Guns n Roses, guitar playing, up all night, beer drinking campers at Swift Reservoir. It doesn't help that I wore a red shirt ALL the time with the words Malibu splashed across the front. And It was the summer that I learned what it was like to not have a restroom. "But dad! We are the side of the road?! It's not fair!" "Who told you life was fair kiddo?" Well, I learned pretty quickly that it wasn't. My Dad was a night owl, which is probably where I got it from. After all us kids went to bed (I had 4 step siblings along with my brother), my Dad would sit by the fire at night staring at the flames. How do I know this? Because I laid in my tent pretending to be asleep, watching him through the netting of the tent door, making sure he was ok. I did this more times than I can count. I often wondered what he was thinking about sitting there alone, or if he knew I was awake and just let me go on thinking I was his protector. And every now and then I'd pray that he would go to bed, because I had trouble keeping my eyes open! it's funny that parent's seem invincible to us as kids, and he seemed like the strongest man in the world to me. He was by no means perfect, but who is? I don't remember the last time I saw him, but I knew the moment the phone rang that he was gone. He loved the outdoors and every time I'm out there now, I take a little piece of him with me for strength. Happy Birthday Dad. via KristinaWilson http://500px.com/photo/97698175