In response to my brother Joel’s Blog, “Dads.”

My dad was my hero

He was not perfect by a long shot, but he was my Pops!

At 5 ft 11 inches he appeared to be a huge figure to me.

He provided me with hugs and kisses, and these were not meant for just special occasions, they were daily devotions of love for family.

My pops always had an answer or tried, and although it may not have been the one I desired, Words by Harmon were spoken or written.

When my dad wasn’t smiling, I assumed it was my fault, and yet today I look back and wonder why I allowed those thoughts to cross my mind.  Assuming always resulted in making an ASS out of ME.  (Some times that even included a potch on the touchy, OUCH!)

My dad was not wealthy in the sense of dollars, but his compassion for life, learning, and sharing made him as RICH as a king.

He was a dreamer, and he attempted to reach for the stars, failure was not in his vocabulary, every step was part of the master plan.

To this day I can still hear my father davening, saying the morning prayers, and often as a young child, I would watch him from afar with his Tallit (prayer shawl), Kippah (head covering), and Tefillin: Phylacteries.

Often this followed another daily ritual for my Pops, as he called it, the three S’s.  At the end of this, he could hear my father bellow, “Good Morning Handsome!”  (My father once told me if you can’t say something positive about yourself how can you expect others too.)

Today, Father’s Day 2019 it is the 15^th year that my father is not here on this green earth (that we are destroying) to celebrate.  I cannot imagine what he must be thinking looking down from the heavens above with the love of his life, my momma, DVasha at his side.

Today I will not be giving my dad cigarettes as we did in the 1950s and 60s, or a pipe or tobacco as he preferred in the 70s and 80s.  He no longer needs a necktie or a new iMac, and even in the day, he preferred just having his Chick-A Dees, his children grandchildren, and great grandkids, spend time with him.

I miss watching my dad fall asleep in his comfy living room recliner and waking up just in time to watch golf on TV.

I miss knowing that he was just a phone call away with the wisdom I chose to listen to or not!

I miss spending Father’s Day with him or any other day.

But, I cherish my memories that no one can ever take away, this is the gift he gave me, and today I will remember and send my loving thoughts to the heavens above.

To all the GREAT DADS, my husband Rich included, continue to create the love and kindness both you and your children need to be the BEST versions of themselves.