Memories of my Father (June 17, 2013)

 “They say that from the instant he lays eyes on her, a father adores his daughter.  Whoever she grows up to be, to him, she is always that little girl in pigtails.  She makes him feel like Christmas morning.  In exchange, he makes a promise, not to see the awkwardness of her teenage years, the mistakes she makes as an adult or the secrets she keeps.”  -Author Unknown

 ·      As a child, I remember our “Man on the Street” tape recordings. 

·      I used to hide in the living room closet before you came home from work and I tried to scare you! Even though you knew I was in there, you played along each and every time!

·      Helping me with my piano lessons for Mrs. Riggs, and my flute lessons with Mr. Marconi, whenever I first got started in band.

·      Our swimming pool in the backyard and having it ready for us to swim in every year.

·      You getting Kennywood tickets from the Penn Hills School District and sharing them with me.

·      The last day of school and you singing “Daddy’s on vacation!”

·      Speaking of vacation, The Ferrante Family Vacations to Disney World, Ocean City, Wildwood, etc.

·      Day trips to Storybook Forest, Idlewild, Kennywood, Cedar Point, etc.

·      Later in life, the year we went to Cedar Point, just the two of us.

·      Going to the local Drive-In Theaters (Me and Matt in our pajamas) in our white station wagon.  Mom packing up those hoagies that were seasoned just right with that Italian dressing!

·      When Nick and Barbara lived next door, you used to call Anna “Siren” because she was always screaming!

·      Our bus trips to various casinos and specifically, the bus trip to Cleveland to see Wicked.  That one is definitely up there with one of my favorite days of all time, ever! Every morning, I look at that globe and remember! 

·      You loved teaching the smaller children at the local elementary schools.  I remember you singing that one song “It’s Halloween. Ghosts and Goblins to be seen …” But seeing you light up whenever you talked about those kids was priceless!

·      Singing harmony to the hymns at church and singing the last song sung, all the way back to the car.

·      The way you chose to use the word no one really knows the meaning of, versus an everyday word.

·      The day we bought that brown typewriter in that very small, overcrowded store in Lawrenceville.  I loved that typewriter!

·      Back in the late 80’s, whenever I first discovered Harry Connick, Jr.  I kept talking about all of these “new” songs.  (i.e. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, Blue Skies, That’s Life, Come Fly With Me, etc.) You told me they were all actually “old” Frank Sinatra songs! But they were all “new” to me!

·      Those small note cards you used to write the lyrics on whenever you were with the Joey Mac Don Band.

·      Assisting in the garage with all of my cars. 

·      Year after year, my waiting until the very last minute to get my car inspected.

·      Moving me from Shadyside to Oakmont.  Gladys and Bill did not show up, so you drove the U-Haul truck.

·      Your passion for music is contagious! And, like someone else I know, you can turn any sentence into a song!  You even have the sweatshirt to prove it! (“Warning, may suddenly break into song!”)

·      The look on your face whenever you buy mom a huge bouquet of flowers from the Double Tulip!

·      You’ve made strides with trying new foods, as mom is always trying her hand at something she’s seen on the Food Network or in a gourmet magazine! But at the core, you are a meat and potatoes guy.

·      Our love for the furry friends that called 209 their home – past and present! Who would have thought that a 4-legged animal could bring so much love to all of us?

·      Our passion for All Things Broadway!  I remember seeing Forbidden Broadway at The Cabaret Theater.  Hearing you laugh out loud at the skits was truly priceless!

·      Our addiction to All Things Dexter Morgan! (Should we be worried that we like a series that much about a serial killer and blood spatter expert?)

·      One of my all time favorite memories was the two of us singing “Graduation Day” at my graduation party in the backyard.  “…we’ll remember always, graduation day!”

Things aren’t always easy here at 209, and I know that sometimes, I drive you crazy, but at the core, all I have is love for you, and I appreciate all that you have done for me over the years, and specifically, this past year. 

 ·    And finally, I know I don’t always express my love for you the way it’s so eloquently expressed in an Oscar Hammerstein song (Soliloquy:  “You can have fun with a son, but you’ve got to be a father to a girl”), a Hallmark card, a great book with an amazing ending, or a Hollywood movie with first rate actors, but know it’s there.  And, if you forget, or if you ever need a quick reminder, just refer to this list! 

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

Love Always,

Baby Jean