My Strongest Suit

Today is a hard day...today marks 1 year since the last time I saw my dad. He came up for a visit on Sunday November 11, 2007 - exactly a week before he died. I was glad to see him because even though I had seen him 2 weeks prior when I was in Dallas for a conference I wanted some quality time with my dad, especially before he was to have surgery - I had a bad feeling about the surgery and I really wanted to see him. I remember him calling me saying he was outside...I was still sleeping then, so I greeted him in my PJs, just when he was about to knock on the door next to mine thinking it was my apartment - he always forgot. He put my dining room chair together that I had trouble with - I couldn't get the seats on the frame of the chair - I remember he referred to them as potty chairs...typical silly daddy humor. We had lunch at McAllisters, went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and then up to a casino in Oklahoma to play Mr. Moneybags slots. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we were singing out hearts out to the Aida soundtrack - a tradition we had - and we must have been so into singing our favorite song "My Strongest Suit" that I wasn't paying attention to my speed. I ended up getting pulled over less than a mile from the exit I was going to take. I was so upset about my ticket and I knew my dad felt bad about it too. We ended up going to the casino and didn't really win, but we always had fun playing. I loved when we would push the button together on the slot machines. We always had so much fun together despite me being upset from the ticket. I remember I drove back and we stopped at Sonic and I got us a snack before heading back to my apartment. I didn't want him to leave. I remember we cuddled on the couch as he tried to console me as I talked about a bunch of the drama that was going on in my life - he was so good at knowing what to say to make me feel better. I remember not wanting him to leave, I even asked him to stay the night, but he couldn't. I walked him down to his car because I needed to put my car in my spot which he was parked in. We hugged and kissed goodbye our by our cars. I remember watching him walk to the car get in and than wave at me as he drove passed me. I watched his car turn to leave the lot. I soaked every moment of that in...as much as I didn't want that to be the last time I saw him I had a strange feeling it might just be.

Enjoy some Aida - Love you dad and miss you more!