Father's Day Memo

Happy Father's Day, y'all! My dad has been gone now about 14 years as of June 14th. He was a good man--a hard worker who never had much good fortune or breaks. He worked so many hours each week at minimum-wage jobs that I didn't see much of him. Then he had to stop working because of a degenerative muscle disease kind of like muscular dystrophy. He died fairly young (77) but he never complained about anything.

He loved animals and nature and was a good irrigator. His nickname was Wink. I still don't get it, but he liked it. His given name was Wendell. (Guess Wink has to be better, huh?) He was tall and handsome with big hands. His right hand was once caught in a grain auger at a mill and the fuses blew because his bones held the auger motor from turning. (Otherwise it would have chewed off his hand.)

I miss you, Dad. I'm sorry I wasn't as appreciative as I should have been. I wasn't a bad daughter, just not as good as I should have been. I've been dreaming about you lately and woke up one night hollering, "Dad, Dad" over and over until I woke myself up. Rick "saved" me. I know you would have been glad some one did.

Rick loves you too. I know you approved of and loved him too. He was like the son you lost. I'm thankful for you, Dad. I hope you realize that now if you didn't before. I know you're up in heaven with all of the dogs and cats you had and probably the horses too. (You always pronounced it "harses.") You are a good man and a good father and a good son and brother. You were born June 1st and died June 14th and in June we celebrate Father's Day right after your only grand daughter's birthday on June 16th. Then your wedding anniversary is coming up June 21st. It was always quite a month for you.

There are lots of good fathers up there with you including your own good dad--John Isaac Hart. Hope you're enjoying your day. We all love you and miss you like crazy.