As I was driving home today, I heard Conway Twitty's song 'That's My Job'.  I hadn't heard it in a long time, so it caught me off guard.  For those who haven't heard it, it's about a father and what he does for a boy - then a man - in their lives together.  Of course, I cried the whole way home.  It got me thinking about my Dad.  As most of you know, due to circumstances, I missed my Dad for several years in my life.  I'm very sad for these lost years.  But, I count myself very lucky.  I've had the good fortune of knowing him both as a child and as an adult.  My two sisters have not been so lucky.  When he left, my younger sister was still pretty young.  She lost a lot of the 'childhood' years.  My older sister didn't even get to meet him until she was well into her adulthood.  Anyway, this song got me thinking about what a wonderful Dad I have.  All three of us girls are so very lucky to be able to call him 'Daddy'.  I don't know what I'd do without him. 

He and I have had so many good times together.  He's a pretty early riser.  When I was young, I'd wake up to some movie on in the living room, God-awful loud.  I'd stumble my way out of my room to find Dad reclining in his easy chair watching something like Batman.  (The good ones, with Michael Keaton in them.) He'd look over at me and say something like 'Oh, your up.'  I'd think, of course I'm up you psyco!  You've got this movie playing at an un-natural volume!  But, in actuallity, I sure did love those mornings.  It was just me and him for a few hours.  Just enjoying each other's company.  I loved watching him cook.  I learned a lot just by watching.  :o)  Not often, but sometimes, he would pull out one of his guitars and play a little.  He'd even sing for us.  That was certainly my idea of heaven.  He played and sang songs that were old to him, but brand new to me.  I still don't know any other version than the ones he sang to me.  If I ever heard the original artist, I'd think - Hey, they're singing Dad's song!  I wish he'd play more often.

Now, that got me thinking about all of the other 'Daddy's' in my life.  I have a wonderful stepdad to be very thankful for.  He is always there for me, even though I am no longer a child - he still treats me like one - his.  I have two Papa's.  Papa Claude, who has left us, and Papa Murray.  Papa Murray is thankfully still with us.  These two men have made such a difference in the way I live my life and what I count as important. 

Call it post-pregnancy hormones, but this got me thinking about MORE Daddy's.  The new ones.  Now, Darryl will have to live up to the expectations set forth by the Daddy's in my life.  Pretty big shoes to fill, but he is doing so with gusto, love, understanding, and patience.  (Patience with both his crazy, hormonal wife and his adorable-perfect-in-every-way son.)

So, thank you Daddy's - Dad, Don, Papa Claude, Papa Murray.  Let's not forget the new ones - Darryl, Andrew, Adam, Jason, and yet another Jason!  All of us ladies, sons, daughters, and friends love you. As your lives as Daddy's move forward, think of all the little things you're doing.  One day, the simplest of things may just end up being one of your child's favorite memories.