My Father's Eyes

Yesterday was Father's Day, so today I would like to take the time to remember a few of the many gifts my Father has given me throughout my life. Some are simple, tender memories from childhood, others life changing trips to amazing places, but the ones I treasure most are the gifts from his soul, the ones he's probably not even aware he's given me. I was born in Long Beach, CA because my Father joined the Marines right out of his High School in Illinois & was stationed in Oceanside. With the VA Bill he was able to go to college & buy our 1st house, but he worked 2 jobs to support his family & we never went without, a gift. One of his jobs was working at Disneyland as a janitor back when Disneyland & the idea of amusement parks was brand new. My brother & I kept empty mayonnaise jars on our dresser. Every morning when we woke up the jars would be filled to the brim with shiny pennies, nickles & dimes. I would find a Disneyland pen light in my jar, while John might find a pop gun or giant pencil in his & of course we would always get TICKETS! Long after the rides had closed for the night & the smiling, sleepy children & worn out parents left the park, my Father swept Main Street. He cleaned the bathrooms & the shops & arcade that lined the street. He worked through the early morning hours while we were home asleep in our beds & at the end of his shift the work crew would divide up the remnants of abandoned toys & lost change & take them home to their children. Every morning when we awoke it was like Christmas, another gift. In 2003 my Father decided he was going to take my daughter & me on a trip to Italy to see Rome & the Sistine Chapel, Florence, the Arno River & the Duomo, a life changing gift. Everything he does for us everyday with his concern & support are gifts, but I do have one favorite gift. This one comes without thought, it is born from DNA or osmosis, this one forever keeps me hopeful & striving for something better. My Dad is a dreamer. His dreams can be little or big, they can be practical or completely irrational, but all my life my Father has dreamed! I am a dreamer too, creating this blogsite is a dream. A dream that I have something to say that might be of value & that I might find an artful way in which to say it. I dream of my tiny shop being a huge success in an economy where no one has any business trying to start a new 'business'. I dream of far off lands filled with surprise & magic just like Max does in "Where the Wild Things Are". Through my Father's eye's, I see all things as possible. So, thank you for the dreams Dad & I hope one day you find a hidden vein of gold in a northern creek some crisp & sparkling morning!