I can't believe my dad is gone... it seems like only yesterday he came bounding through the door larger than life, calling out "How's my Ballerina?" We have always had such a special relationship. I think it's because we are so much alike. I could do no wrong in his eyes and he always took care of me and protected me. He always told my brother and I how much he loved us. Even in his final days he would tell us he loved us. And, he loved my mom more than life itself. He was such a positive example of what traits to look for in a husband. I know he was proud of Andres, my husband, who he knows will always take care of me and our children.
There is so much to say about the man who shaped and influenced my life and my view of the world. The traits that stand out most to me about my dad were his endless positivity, strength and sense of adventure.
I think my dad's positivity is what attracted people to him. He even had more Facebook friends than me! He had so many good friends. Even strangers were drawn to him. Like every time we went out to dinner, he would make sure he knew the name of our server and made them feel as though they were best friends by the end of the meal. My brother and I would always joke about that... he knew no strangers. And, even with his larger than life character and stature he always made people around him feel comfortable.
Have you ever seen those "Vacation" movies with Chevy Chase? Well, my brother and I always thought those movies were based on dad's life and watching them brings back such good memories. He was a lot like Clark Griswold! So when you watch those movies now you can think of my dad and laugh.
One of my favorite memories of my dad was listening to him sing at church... he had such a beautiful voice. Little did I know, he used to be a competitive singer growing up. He sang in a quartet when he was a teenager and they participated in singing competitions. He also won the best singer award in high school. That’s just one of those little known facts about my amazing and talented dad.
My dad's strength and determination was amazing even until he took his last breath. You don't have to look very far to see where we got our competitive nature and drive to be our best. My dad was always athletic... he played all sports but excelled most as a baseball pitcher growing up. He was invited to try out with the Minnesota Twins. He was also offered a full ride to play ball at the University of North Dakota but turned it down to attend the University of Minnesota. Even into adulthood, he loved all athletic challenges, from racquet ball, soccer, tennis and golf. In the last 4 years, my dad and I really bonded over participating in long distance races. He got so into it, he completed 13 half marathons, completed the 3-day 60 mile walk for a cure and worked to raise money in honor of Carol Rowe, who passed away from breast cancer in 2008 and walked, NO really, HIKED 200 miles in the Coast to Coast Walk across England. Most of these long distance challenges he completed after being diagnosed with cancer himself, and never complained one bit! About a month before he passed away, he told me he wanted me to run another marathon for him... he suggested the London Marathon among a few other international races. I told him I would do it, and run all my races in his honor in the future. I better start training!
Thanks to my dad's sense of adventure, at an early age I had a passion for traveling, exploring other cultures and meeting new people. Dad loved food, we all know that,... and he loved trying new foods from all over the world. While we liked most of the same things, food was not one of them! Some of his favorite foods were sardines, pickled pigs feet, sushi, herring and aquavit, haggis, steak tar tar and the weirdest thing he liked eating was uncooked hotdogs with mustard and crunchy peanut butter on wheat bread.
My dad would be so happy to see all of you here celebrating his life and supporting my mom and our family... I know he is here with us today. I just wish I could give him a big hug and feel his strong arms around me. This is not the end... my dad will live on in me and my children. My dad wanted grandkids so badly and was so happy when we told him we were pregnant with Zach. He and Zach have always had a very special and close relationship. They were best buddies. Mia and her Pops had a special bond too. Besides the fact that everyone thinks they look so much alike, she is always happy, friendly and very determined... Just like her Pops. And in just over a month, I will give birth to another baby girl who will be named after her Pops… they will share the same middle name. And even though she will never have met him here on Earth, she, Zach and Mia will always have a guardian angel watching over them in Heaven.
I love you Pops... you will remain alive in us until we are reunited again.
