Happy Father's Day

I'd first like to say Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there! Honor your father and your mother.

It's nice to celebrate these special occasions, but I guess with everything I have been through over the last 5 years, we've learned to cherish each day and celebrate each day as if there were no tomorrow. Right now, EVERY DAY is Father's Day, Mother's Day, happy to be alive day, happy to be an American day, Easter Season & Christmas Season all rolled into one, treat others with respect day, fawn over people as if it were their birthday day, thank you for giving me life day, be kind to all day and the list goes on! I sure wish others had these same values!


But I would like to thank my Mother and my Father for getting together so that I am here today. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad divorced when I was a little girl, so I really don't know my Dad very well, or his side of the family. It appears to have been an amicable parting and I saw my Father on a regular basis as a little child. However, as I grew into an adult, he was not obligated to visit me anymore.

I've never felt jipped because my Mother has been Mom and Dad to me. She is an amazing person and has always given all of us more love than anyone could ever imagine...she also gave us everything we always needed and probably everything we wanted! She would do without so we had the latest clothes, the latest gadgets, a nice house and pretty much everything!

I did and still do feel bad for my father. He has really missed out on some great life happenings. He has never once heard me sing. I just thought about that last week as I was cantoring the Mass. He has never been on one of the fantastic baseball trips that Mom used to take us all on. We had some GREAT times and have hundreds of tremendous memories --not only from our baseball trips to other cities, but just to Cleveland Stadium, Jacob's Field and Progressive Field! He does not know the great friends I have from Hiram to my work friends. They are all the salt of the earth. And I think, maybe God has put great people in my life because I am missing out on the 'father figure!' My family, when we were all living together, shared great times every single day. We'd watch a movie and just laugh. We'd sit around the dinner table and something funny would come up causing my sister to start her laughing wheeze....To this day we'll all start reciting lines from 'While you were sleeping'! Unfortunately, with everyone being so busy and moving on with their own lives, there are not as many memories being made. But the memories I do have will last me a lifetime, and unfortunately, my Father has missed out on that aspect of our life.

And there were always great male figures in our family that were tremendous role models. My Uncle Johnny lived with us for a few years while he was on dialysis. He was amazing. He was a teddy bear underneath but always taught us the meaning of respect which came with his Air Force background. I wish I would have had more time with Uncle Johnny but the short time we did have together was wonderful! One of his greatest gestures to Mom was our Cleveland Indians' Season tickets. He, too, had a love for the game of baseball. That's one reason we really never want to relinquish them! Uncle Johnny is in our heart always, and when we are at an Indians' Game, we know he is right there with us!

Then there was Uncle Bill. We lived in close proximity for much of my life. He's still only 20 minutes away. He was and still is yet another father-figure to me. I remember when I was a little girl just walking downstairs (we lived up, Auntie and Uncle Bill lived down), knocking on the back door and bothering them all the time....having treats together....watching television (either thrillers like Perry Mason, or Hee Haw or a myriad of other shows).....going to shows or the zoo to see the monkeys.....playing with their cat BIDA.....going to the race track and watching the horses run....and to this day, buying him stuffed animals (cats especially) to add to his collection. The joke is that whenever we go somewhere, even if Uncle Bill does not go with all of us, he always winds up getting some kind of gift!

Two other uncles who also played a part in my growing up: Uncle Tommy (RIP) and Uncle Casey. Uncle Casey is still alive but living in FLA so unfortunately, I really don't get a chance to spend time with him. But the stories I hear and the great pictures of him as a little child are so adorable! I have really been blessed with having a wonderful family. There were so many other uncles as I was growing up. My Mother's family was so rich (not necessarily with money but with so many other wonderful attributes!)....and I am just pleased as punch and blessed to be a part of this family!

(Uncle Casey, Grandma, Uncle Johnny, Auntie Annette, Mom, Uncle Tommy, Grandpa)

Uncle Bill and Dani and Bida