dia de los muertos, dia de bloglandia

Today on Dia de los Muertos I honor my father
who taught me many things.

How to make a fort of newly raked leaves & then jump in it.
How to ride a red two~wheeler on the hill of our driveway without falling.
How to catch a softball in a well~worn leather glove.
How to root for the Home Team and eat popcorn at the same time..

How to make a kite from an old newspaper with rags for a tail.
How to beware of over~head wires.
How to have patience when the wind would not come.
How to take turns with my sweet sister.

How to catch a blue~gill bream, to clean it
and to fry it up in a pan.

{{"Get it off, daddy!" my mother said I shouted
and then she wrote this
on the back of the documenting b&w photo
of My First Fish Caught Ever in the History of the World.}}

My daddy taught me how to rise early in the day--
whilst others were still sleeping--
to pick up the best shells along the beach,
a skill I find useful to this very day.

My daddy taught me how to stand outside under the trees--
on a little stool because I was so young--
to open oysters at a ricketty wooden table.
How to slide the salty blobs onto a saltine cracker
and eat them
on
down
even when my mom & sister would not.

How to spend vacations with family
even thought they might live 4 states away
and we would have to Make Time to travel there  to visit.

How to visit old people in the hospital
when I really only wanted to play outside in the Florida sun.

{{ At the time I had no idea he was training me
to care for him many years later, to care for my dear mom now.}}

Today on Dia de los Muertos I honor my father
who ate my first hard biscuits made from scratch
over and over again until I finally got it right
and he never once complained.

Then he turned around and did the same
with my powdery brownies too dry to swallow.

The scrambled eggs were yet another story...

Today on Dia de los Muertos I honor my father, Max,
with love and memories both overflowing.

I try to remember everything about my dad
but really it takes no effort at all.
None. What so ever.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{{ This posting is part of the Dia de Los Muertos celebration organized by rebecca at recuerda mi corazon and Stephanie at Mango Studio for Dia de Bloglandia. Follow the links for more of the Art of Remembering where we honor those we love who are no longer here. Hey, daddy! }}

Comments

[gloria]

Oh what a beautiful post. Your daddy must be beaming with pride. How wonderful the way you have told us what a good father he was. Very nicely told. Thank you so much for sharing. ::hugs::

[audrey]

Hi.
How wonderful!! Your dad was a very special man who took time and care to teach you many valuable lessons and made it fun along the way. Your words made it easy to visualize this special man. Your photos are beautiful. I am happy to share in the celebration of this day with you.
♥ audrey

[jenny]

So sweet, made me tear up.

[stephanie]

oh spf...my eyes are FULL of happy tears for the story you have shared with us of your sweet daddy.

He taught you many things and I bet he had a wonderful sense of humor too.

He raised a beautiful daughter.

x..x

[Dawn Elliott]

Your tribute to your father, Max, is so incredibly beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes. I can just see him being so immensely proud of you, so loving...
Thank you for sharing your intimate story with us today...it's so very sweet and dear...

[Roz Cawley]

Your post is inspirational and your art work likewise. I had a different relationship with my father, though I still now remember him and honour him - but to hear the description of your special feelings for and memories of your own father is completely heartwarming.

Thank you for allowing me into this part of your life.

Warm wishes from England x