Dad,
I miss you!

I miss your hugs and kisses.

I miss your directions.
"Okay, you go down RL Thorton to Stemmons and go north to Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway and head west to Airport Freeway..."
Stop, Dad, I need numbers!!! Give me numbers of freeways!!!

I miss tips about my car.
"Well, that shimmy you are feeling is probably from a loose lugnut in your carburetor..."
Thanks, Dad, I think. What should I do about that?

I miss pickles in the salad.
I miss woking on Saturday nights.
I miss red hamburgers cooked on the grill.
I miss charred shrimp that fell through the slats in the grill to the fire below.
I miss "plastic cherry torilla surprise".

I miss just having someone to ask the silly questions to...such as:
Where can I buy those little caps that go on the air thingy on your tire?
How can I get something notarized?
How come I can't get the lamp in the house to stay on?
Who was president way back when you were my age?
Where, exactly, is the place for horseplay?
Who is that guy standing over there by Uncle Jerry at the family reunion?
How do you make bacon not be so crisp?
How can I go away to college?
Why is it better to fill your gas tank when it is already 1/2 full?
(although you never did this)
Where can I go to find the best deal on a new car?
How can I rig my drivers side window to stay up?
Where does Mom stash the chocolate cookies?
Who is the best guy to vote for?
Will you walk me to my car since it is dark outside?
Will you look at the BIG dent I got in my car door when I was at the Walmart?
Will you help me figure out what to do about the hail damage on my Impala?
How do I change insurance companies?
What kind of life insurance should I get?
Where can I look in the Bible to find________________________?
Will you haul all my junk to Commerce so I can go away to college?
Will you come pick me up when my car won't start?
Will you bring your big white van to push my car out of the middle of the road when I get stuck in the flood?
When is the Lord coming?
When will the pain go away?
Will the Cowboys go to the Super Bowl this year?
Will you miss me?

**********************

I was wondering the other day how I was going to get a lot of these questions answered now. Then I remembered the wonderful gift that God gave to me.

Thank you Stephen, James, and Bruce for being there.
Thank you for being REAL.
Thank you for being, not a father figure, but a true friend.
Thank you for listening, understanding, and teaching.
Thank you for hugs and pats on the back, for phone calls and text messages.
Thank you for knowing how desperately I need you in my life right now.
Thank you for being willing to step in and heed to my call.

All of you have been my lighthouse. When I start to drift off in a sea of despair, I think of or look to you. That always brings me back to reality.

Thank you Lord, for giving me such wonderful men in my life!