The Dads in My Life

I hope men know how important they are in a child's life and the influence they have over their offspring.

I lost contact with my dad, because of divorce, when I was about 5 years old. It wasn't until I was 26 and my brother was killed in a car wreck that I found him again. With my mom's help, I tracked him through his cousins to California, where he had moved after the divorce. Someone had told him that my brother and I wanted nothing to do with him, which was so far from the truth. I dreamed about running into him on the street and imagined what I would say to him. As it turned out, when he called me after getting my number from his landlady, all I said was, "Hi!"

We did develop a relationship through the next few years, and I got to know my stepmother. I took a couple of trips to California to see him, and was amazed at how much my brother and I acted like him. I still wish my brother could have known him. His health was poor and he died in early 1982.

Mostly all I have is this Navy picture from World War II. He was a handsome man with a radiant smile. When I met him at 60 he still had that smile.

Stan's dad, Neal, was a gentle, outgoing man. He was a good father and his children loved him dearly. His health was also poor, and he passed away in 1990. His influence was felt by all of his five children and his daughters-in-law. I still miss him.

"Pappy" Neal on the right, sitting with his older brother Jim.

My son Jim is a super dad. With four kids, a wife with a great career, a 40-hour a week job, and all the stuff that comes with a family he steps in and takes up any slack that is needed. He does most of the cooking in his house and is an excellent cook. He's pretty good at medical things because of the many surgeries that Millie has had to endure, and can give a shot with the best of them.

Ever the good sport, here Jim is last year at Halloween as Larry the Cable Guy. Pretty good likeness, but I think Jim is handsomer.

When Steve was little, all he wanted to be when he grew up was a dad. He has his wish now, with a five year old son and an eight year old stepson. Kids are still drawn to him and he is so patient and loving with the boys. He teaches the kids a lot of things that most kids don't learn until much later. He grows polite, smart kids.

Can you see that big grin he has minutes after his son was born?

David doesn't have kids, but he has a sweetheart, Laura, and a couple of cats. He's a great person, a real nurturer.

Laid back at a family picnic.

Stan and I have been married for 41 years and has been the kind of father to our kids that I wished I had had. He worked hard, took us to church, and made sure that he was there for all our kids. He loves kids, (suppose that's where Steve gets it) and sacrifices the whole month of December to play Santa.

Here we are at one of many family picnics. Do you think he's the "real" Santa?

Happy Father's Day, guys, I'm so glad I have known all of you.