Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday. I don't know if I will be successful in calling him so I want to write a special birthday greeting to my Dad.

Dear Dad,

Thanks for all you've done throughout your life. I think of you daily and want you to know how much I appreciate all you did for us kids, and Mom.

You worked tirelessly for many years providing a home and warm environment which enriched us all and make us who we are today.

Mira asks about you often and I tell her how you used to sing to me songs from many years ago, you know, "When you wore a tulip . . ." "Toot toot tootsie goodbye . . ." the list is endless, isn't it?

Mira asks questions about "PapPap" and what he was like when I was growing up. I say that you and I used to go out Friday nights shopping, how I was the youngest child for four years until my younger sister was born, and how you used to take my brothers and I out for hot dogs and Pepsi on Saturday mornings, in addition to many other memories.

We may not be together right now, but I hold all the great memories that we made as a family dearly in my heart. I remember the holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, summer holidays and vacations -- making the best of it and having a great time with a wife and five children. We were our own sports team if you look at it a certain way.

I tell Mira about your parents and how wonderful they were -- how they loved us very much and how they wanted the best for us -- always there for us; especially Granpap. She asks about how often we would visit Granpap, and I tell her that he would come and stay with us and help Baba with the house and the kids. He would cut the grass in the yard, and then when you would get home from work, he would yell at you "What the hell did you plant that tree there for, Joe?" I'm sure you remember; it is with such fondness and love. Funny how things at the time are not endearing, it's only as time passes that we long to return to the days of when we were growing up.

Thank you for making me the responsible person that I am today. I don't know how you and Mom did it, but you stood by me no matter what. Your unconditional love and support helped me survive my 20's, enjoy marriage in my 30's, and parenting in my 40's.

STOLAT!

Love Always,

Marian