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tipping the scale at more than 150 pounds I
suspect. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a
devout Catholic, a civil servant and most of all a good
friend to all who knew him. I often said that
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I’ve never known anyone who had the
friends that man had. Everywhere he went he
knew someone and everyone knew him as Charlie.
So as I sit here in the year 2004
thinking about this man Charlie, I thought it was time to
put pen to paper. It’s been 31 years since he passed away, I
was 27 years old and oh so many things have happened since
that cold December day. Through the years I’ve spent many
hours writing, talking and pondering the difficult and
sometimes painful times growing up but that’s done now so
for today I choose to take a few precious moments and
remember this remarkable man I was honored to call My Dad. |
I remember:
 Crawling
into bed with my dad when I got scared at night and how safe
he made me feel.
Singing
and dancing to Irish music and many of the good old good
ones in our parlor on Lombard Avenue.
Going to
the farm in Portage Wisconsin where my dad spent his boyhood
summers. I was 5 years old when I held a cat for the first
time and not very well from the pictures. That poor cat was
out of my arms as fast as his little legs could carry him.
Wanting to ride the horse by myself but after pleading
getting on with my dad and loving it.
Standing
in the back seat of our car with my head right at my dad’s
left ear on our way to the many lakes nearby. I’d keep
asking him “How many more miles daddy?” and he was so
patient and said “Not much further honey, pretty soon”.
Going to
weekday mass with my dad once in a while but mostly during
Lent. He went everyday of his life.
Visiting
churches on Holy Thursday. We would laugh and goof around
but he never really scolded us for it. We drank Lourdes
water at the French church my dad called it, I wish I knew
where it was and if it still exists.
Getting
up for school and finding warm rye bread and other
delicacies my dad would pick up at Lawry’s bakery after 7:30
mass.
Going to
Kiddieland with my dad so I could ride the ponies. Ten
tickets for a dollar and all for pony rides. Oh how much I
wanted a horse of my own and how I knew he wanted it for me
but it was not to be so the ponies would have to suffice and
I loved it.
Having a
soft serve ice cream cone at Kiddieland. It was half
chocolate and half vanilla and delicious.
Hearing
the song Daddy’s Little Girl, getting chills and thinking
whoever wrote it must have known my dad.
Having
him gently wake me up for school by tickling my ear or
touching my feet through the blanket.
My dad
picking me up from school to take me home for lunch when we
only lived 3 blocks away.
Counting
mounds of dollar bills and coins at our dining room table
many years in a row when my dad was Chairman of the March of
Dimes fund drive.
My dad
and I sneaking bites of the stuffing while basting the
Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey.
He loved
watching Gunsmoke, Peter Gunn, Boston Blackie and Paladin on
TV.
He loved
football especially Fenwich High Scholl football and even
though he never had a boy he went to every game. I think all
four of us girls inherited his love of the game.
Praying
the rosary with our family, friends and neighbors when the
Pilgrim Virgin was at our home.
Our
family going to “The Esquire” for breakfast after Sunday
mass and having a toasted pecan roll
Watching
him usher at Sunday and Holiday masses and feeling so proud
of him.
My
godmother Valerie always singing my dad’s praises about how
much he did for her mom and her sister. So many others to
this day tell me similar stories.
He was
such a sharp dresser and always wore French cuff shirts.
Christmas after Christmas season running to answer the front
door and day after day people handing me candy, liquor,
fruit, fruit cakes and tons of other gifts to thank my dad
for something he’d done throughout the year. He may have
put their son or daughter to work, or helped someone in the
community but whatever it was they wanted to thank him. He
or she may have been a doctor or lawyer now and wanted to
give my dad something to thank him for the job that helped
pay for their education. My dad gave a janitorial job to
the mentally challenged son of a wealthy man in the area and
every year that man sent my dad a Christmas present. It was
for the job but also the fact that my dad spent time talking
to that young man every time he saw him. That boy loved
going to work at the Post Office.
Going to
see my dad at the Post Office and knocking on the “unmarked
office door”. I’d sit at his desk in his big chair and look
around at the portraits of Presidents and award plaques
hanging on the walls. He even had his own bathroom but the
thing I remember most was the size of the office. To this
day it’s the largest one person office I’ve ever seen.
Always
kissing him good by before I left the house.
His
advice to never put our head down at night without making
sure we were on good terms with those we love. That is one
lesson I’ve pledged to live by.
A man
who could carry on a conversation with anyone and while
doing so always make that person feel important.
I have many things to thank my dad for
but most important is my love of people and pledging to
treat people as I want to be treated, that was the example
he showed me and my sisters. He also passed on to me his
love of animals for which I am so grateful. Those wonderful
creatures are amazing teachers of life and unconditional
love to all who welcome them into their lives. I know he’d
be pleased that I finally realized my dream of riding horses
after all these years. I know also that he would love Gary
my wonderful husband and best friend. I trust he’s looking
down today and feeling pretty proud at what he sees in his
family but perhaps a bit distressed at what he sees in our
world. He always tried to do the right thing; he was a good
and honest man and I miss him even after all these years and
I will always love him. 
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