My Mind's Eye

Remember your Angels are Watching

Friday, June 14, 2013

This Moment {See Beautiful}: My Grandpa

Today's This Moment, See Beautiful is written entirely by Mom in honor of her Dad.  
Take it away Mom



This Sunday will be my first Father's Day in 59 years without my Daddy

Brad Paisley's is one of my favorite country singers.  
About 8 years ago he and a friend co wrote

The Dad He Didn't Have to Be

  It is a true story about Brad's friend
marrying a single mom with a son.  It is also mine story.
My biological father died when I was 2 so I never knew him.

Below I'll share my favorite lines from the song.

"When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run

I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later, I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes

And then, all of a sudden, oh it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing to a family
Looking back, all I can say about all the things he did for me"


Nope he didn't run he embraced me as his own
Picture taken in 1954 shortly after my parents were married.


He taught me how to dance  (my 13th b-day party)
He shared his love of music and song with me.
Such as Beans, beans the beautiful fruit the more you eat the more you toot!!
I grew up listening to the Big Band Music and I still love it.

HE WAS TRULY THE DAD HE DID NOT HAVE TO BE
HE CHOSE TO BE MY DAD.
He was funny, loved to tell jokes (some over and over).
He played a mean golf game, he loved to be out doors.
He loved the Atlanta Braves
He loved animals, in his younger days he rode horses.
He love my corn bread and my potato salad in fact he was a very appreciative diner. 
At the end of a meal I would ask if he enjoyed it.  
He replied, with a twinkle in his eyes, 
 it was all right.  
He was born during hard times
His education was cut short because he
went to work early in life to help his family.
He said he was educated in the the school of hard knocks.
He worked with his Dad in the electrical business.
He was a quick learner and soon became a foreman.
Eventually he owned his own electrical and lighting business.
He taught me to count.  When he was bidding on jobs , often I accompanied him on job sites
  In order to keep me from asking too many questions, he gave me a job....counting receptacles.

He loved his girls, Mama, me and my daughter.
Shortly after my daughter was born in 1971, his morning routine changed.
Instead of going straight to work he would come by my house...to see 
his new granddaughter.  I think he came by to make sure she was still alive after all
I was only 23 and what did I know?  By the time he arrived she was down for her 
morning nap......he would say I just want to peep in...lo and behold he and his
size 12 steel toed work boots would somehow manage to kick the crib waking up a delighted baby.
When she was a toddler, he started lunch dates.  They always ended up with a new Barbie.  Once he put a tape recorder under his seat just before a lunch date.
Oh the conversation they had was truly adorable. When he played the tape back,
she told him he didn't ask her if he could tape her.  That nearly made him pass out with laughter.
She was and is spunky and he liked that.
My daughter called him Papa. They had a very special bond.
Daddy was a loving caregiver to my mom when she became disabled.

As he aged, being his daughter was sometimes hard. It was hard for him to step out of the roll as always taking care of people  to letting me take care of him.  He was his own man,
he was stubborn, independent and never wanted to be viewed as weak.
WHICH IS WHAT MADE HIM THE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MAN HE WAS
Trying to get him to slow down was not an option, as Frank Sinatra sang
HE DID IT HIS WAY

THIS AND EVERY MOMENT WITH HIM I SAW BEAUTIFUL 
 I KNEW HE LOVED ME AND HE KNEW I LOVED HIM.
 I THANK HIM FOR CHOOSING ME TO BE 
HIS DAUGHTER.


W.H.C
September 4, 1929-April 22, 2013



TODAY IS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY

OF THIS MOMENT, SEE BEAUTIFUL
I THANK SUGAR FOR BEING SUCH A GRACIOUS 
HOSTESS.
There will also be a giveaway over at Sugar's
1) The Soul of the Dog: (your) Dog's Eye Painting by Sheila Wedegis
2) See Beautiful bracelet
Details of the giveaway is on our blog.


From Sugar the Golden Retriever: "{This Moment} See Beautiful is a once a month Blog Hop,every 2nd Friday of the month. Simply create a blog post that made your day,week, and/or month … inspiring you in Seeing Beauty.Blog Hop inspired by See Beautiful." Please be respectful of this blog hop. Only add your blog if your post is related to {This Moment} See Beautiful 6/14/13 {This Moment} See Beautiful Blog 1st Anniversary Hop

50 comments:

  1. Golden LOVE the lyrics. It's Beautiful. Most fathers usually do it their"own way" Your mom has great precious memories of his dad and he'll be remembered forever. Happy Seeing Beauty. Lots of Golden Thanks being part of it. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  2. Oh so BEAUTIFUL!! What an incredible and loving man. This is my MOM's first Father's Day without her father also. Big hugs to you and your mom.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  3. What a wonderful post! He seemed like a remarkable person!

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  4. Such a beautiful tribute to your dad. It brought tears to my eyes. The picture of the two of you dancing is priceless and the song is wonderful. I had never heard of the song, but I can see why it is so special to you.

    Cindy

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  5. Oh C, what a beautiful and loving tribute to your father. You have so many wonderful memories of your time together. I love the photo of the two of you dancing. My dad passed away twenty years ago this coming December.

    Hugs,
    J

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  6. What a beautiful, beautiful tribute your human wrote for her father. Thank you so much for sharing him with us.

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  7. BEautiful post! This made my Mommy leaky-eyed. It touched her hearstrings closely. She has had a wonderful relationship with her stepfather. Although she misses her Daddy like crazy, she loves him dearly. Sending ((hugs)) to your Mommy on this Father's Day and this special See Beautiful Anniversary.

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  8. Why does reading such a beautiful, moving, loving post make one so tearful?
    Great to read something so positive about a step-parent. They don't always get a good press.
    Cheers, Gail

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  9. That was a beautiful tribute to your dad. He sounds just amazing and he did love you. My dad passed 31 yrs ago last April and not a day goes by that I dont think of him. Sometimes I catch myself wondering what if?? I have to trust that God's time is perfect and I know I will see him again one day.
    Paws crossed here for comfort and memories on Fathers day!!

    Love and wags
    Diana and Jazzi

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  10. What a special guy! I'll be thinking of you on Sunday, Cecelia...

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  11. Mum what a beautiful tribute full of love. Your time with dad is treasured and it is wonderful to have such beautiful memories. Have a fabulous Friday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  12. what a beautiful tribute to your daddy. he sounded like a wonderful man. thanks for sharing some of your memories.
    (btw, i love brad paisley too!)

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  13. That was a wonderful tribute to your grandpa. Our tears were running but under tears we must laugh about the beans. Thanks for sharing your memories with me.

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  14. Oh Madi this is such a beautiful tribute that your mom has written to honour her dad. My mum was in tears reading it. The love was so plain to see in every word.

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  15. With tears in our eyes, we have to tell you that was TRULY BEAUTIFUL! Father's are so very special and we know that this first Father's Day without him will be difficult.

    Your post really touched our heart's.

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

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  16. Oh goodness, that was one beautiful post. What a lovely tribute to your Dad. He sounds like my kind of guy. That is one of the best posts I have read. We are so glad that you had such a wonderful man that picked you as his daughter. Big hugs to ya today.

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  17. Madi, we have tears rolling, what a beautiful post, just loved it.. Your Dad will know you will be thinking of him on Sunday, because they never really leave us.. I haven't got my Dad either, he died when he was 54 of the awful big C... He wasn't my real Dad but he will always be Dad to me xx00xx

    Mollie and Alfie

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  18. This made me cry it was so beautiful. Your dad was truly a special dad, and I love how you captured so much about him in this post. The part about getting his education at the school of hard knocks made me laugh. Wonder if he was a classmate of my dad. That's what he always says too.

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  19. this is THE MOST Beautiful of all the See Beautiful today... touching and brought tears to my eyes, a wonderful and beautiful tribute to your dad....love this true life story...

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  20. forgot to say how much I enjoyed the photos from the past.

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  21. What a handsome Daddy you had! I'm so sorry about your loss. Father's Day is like a knife in the heart, I know. Find warmth and comfort in your loving memories of him. My thoughts will be with you.

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  22. Truly a BEAUTIFUL post today. The most BEAUTIFUL part of this story is that you CHOSE each other to be father and daughter. This makes it a very special bond.

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  23. What an AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL MAN. Allowing us To SEE into his heart and soul is a Beautiful thing for you to have done fur the Anniversary of See Beautiful.
    THANK YOU for SHARING your Dad with US.

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  24. Oh that was such a sweet story of your Daddy!
    You picked a perfect BEAUTIFUL MOMENT!
    I loved the photos from younger days.
    He knew you loved him from how you cared for him and Mama.
    Big hugs,
    Kathy and Molly

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  25. I think you and your dad were both extremely lucky! My dad has Parkinson's and I see him slowing down a lot these days, and your post really hit home for me. I know you must really be missing him, but I have a feeling that he's still checking up on you from where he is.

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  26. Oh, Madi, my LLS, this beautiful tribute to your grandpa and my LLG left us all in tears. And what's so sad is that somehow we missed the post that he had passed. We are so sorry and sad for such a huge loss. Many purrs and hugs coming your way.

    Hugs, Laila, your LLS

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  27. What a beautiful post! Made my mom cry as she misses her dad too but he has been gone for a long time although that doesn't change much. She always says he would have loved me as he loved shaggy, messier dogs like me. Have a beautiful day!

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  28. Cecilia, this is making my eyes leak. Love the tribute to your Dad.

    What a wonderful man, I would have loved to be able to have a father in my life like yours.

    Thank you for telling us about your special Father.

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  29. A truly beautiful post! A wonderful tribute to your Dad.
    love
    Bailey, Hazel, Greta & Mom

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  30. What a beautiful tribute to your dad who sounds like a wonderful man.
    You must miss him so much.
    Hugs, Lynne x

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  31. Cecilia what a beautiful tribute to your Father!!! I know this Sunday will be difficult for you as all the "firsts" are when we lose a loved one but I hope that your lovely memories of your wonderful Daddy will see you through :-)

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  32. Thank you for sharing your beloved Daddy with us. It made me tear up as I read about this wonderful man who chose to be your Daddy. Beautifully written. Just beautiful.

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  33. Aw, you made my mom's eyes leak! Anyone can be a father but the special men are dads!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley
    Ambassadors of Love

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  34. We will be sure to send some see beautiful thoughts your way this weekend. Thank you for hopping with us!!

    Lydia @ See Beautiful
    www.seebeautiful.com

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  35. We got some weepy wet whiskers too. That was beautiful and we could feel the love. Hugs from all of us.

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  36. I have been without my father for a long time. (I lost him when I was 10 years old) I really enjoyed your post, thank you for sharing your memories!

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  37. Now THAT is truly a See Beautiful post. Mom has tears in her eyes as she reads your heartfelt words so filled with love. But remember it is oNLY your first Father's Day without your Daddy here on earth with you - he is forever in your heart.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

    Pee Ess - mom forgot about See Beautiful day - we are going to see if we can get her to do one even if it is another day.

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  38. That is VERY beautiful, Madi. Momma and me got a little teary eyed.

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  39. You touched our heart so deeply with this moving post.
    We know this is a very significant moment for your Mom Madi. We will be thinking about her this Sunday and sending warm heartfelt purrs. How is your Grandma doing???

    *hugs and purrs*

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  40. What a lovely, heart felt post, Cecilia, such a beautiful tribute to a wonderful, special man in your life; I felt your love for him, it really brought tears to my eyes to realize you lost him...My sincere condolences, there are some losses we never really heal from, but you both were lucky to have each other...Take care...Hugs...J

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  41. Oh, that was a BEAUTIFULS post!! Oh, what an amazin' tribute to your Gpa Madi! My Ma's heart breaks for your Moms. Tell her we are all thinkin' of her, and we will high-five the stars for her tonight.
    {{{hugs}}}}
    Kisses,
    Ruby

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  42. What a beautiful tribute to your dad, Madi's mom. We send you purrs on this special day.

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  44. What a beautiful tribute to an amazing man!

    Jack's friend,
    Nancy

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  45. That was a wonderful tribute to your father. I am sorry he is no longer with you, that is so difficult, especially where you obviously had a beautiful relationship. I also love that Brad Paisley song, even though it does not apply to me, I have family it did apply to, and I think it touches a lot of people.

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  46. Wow, that was a really beautiful tribute to your dad. You were very lucky to have each other. I'm sure tomorrow will be hard for you, but they never truly leave us, they are always in our hearts.

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Please leave a meow or bark for Angel Madi...her assistant (aka Mom) will respond in a timely fashion. =^..^=
Life is short, spend it with those who make you laugh
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” (Leo F. Buscaglia)
TONS OF HUGS
Cecilia and Angel Madi
Email: candb214@att.net