[guide.chat] Father's Tributes

From: "clare moulds" <clare@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Guide Chat" <guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:37:47 +0100
I took these lovely stories from Friday's issue of Mamas Corner and I loved 
them so thought I would share them with you as I'm sure you will too. I can 
relate to the first one as my mum never knew she was having twins either so 
what a double shock she and my dad had and then to find out I was blind but my 
sister and I were only born a couple of minutes apart and I was told I came out 
first. My parent's have always been there for me like Donna's have for her. I 
just thank God I still have both my parents still with me and don't know what I 
would do without them it just doesn't bear thinking about so it's very scary 
knowing I will lose them one day but for now I will treasure every moment I 
have with them. Well here's the tributes.

Remembering My Dad

Sent in by Donna

Dad left me a little over 23 years ago and to this day I miss him as if it were 
only yesterday when he left. At his funeral, I eulogized him as someone who was 
not just my dad, he was my friend. He left me an invaluable legacy, knowledge. 
He understood my needs and never failed to come through for me.

I was the unexpected baby; born eight hours after my twin brother. Mom never 
knew that she was having twins and when she and dad were told that I was on the 
way, just imagine their surprise and then they discovered that I was blind! 
They never faltered as parents and my dad remained a constant source of 
knowledge for me.

As early as I can remember, he would read to me; story books, newspapers, and 
selected articles of interest. He taught me all about Religion, politics, 
economics, plus much more. He helped me to become a passionate and 
compassionate Human Being. He taught me respect, how to treat others, but most 
of all, he instilled courage and motivation into me.

Dad taught me my alphabet, taught me how to count, and he was constantly 
challenging my mental strength and capacity. He taught me how to ride a bike 
and we often raced along the beach either on foot or on our bikes. He taught me 
how to swim, to fly a kite, and he often played cards, football, and cricket 
with me. He even took me fishing and placed those delicate little butterflies 
in the palm of my hand. Dad probably wished that I would remain his little girl 
for ever but that was okay.

I grew up and he was still my dad.

Dad was my hero; a gentleman to the end, and someone who was never afraid to 
help others. He was loyal to his friends and family, a leader in his own right. 
He was gentle, firm, and loving. Most of all, he never stopped encouraging me 
to reach for the stars and had faith in my abilities as a blind person. Rest in 
peace dad!

Till we meet again.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, inviting you to go 
out there and share my blogs with the rest of the world. Visit:

www.nfb.org

to learn more about how sighted parents interact with their blind kids.

_____

Thank You, Dad

Hi, Dad. I just wanted to write you a little note to thank you for all the 
things you have done for me over the years, but I realized that, if I did that, 
it would be a whole book. I hope you don't mind if I just hit the highlights.

Thanks, Dad, for having the good sense to marry Mom all those years ago. You 
couldn't have chosen a better wife or mother for all of us. Thanks for not 
stopping at two sons or I wouldn't be here today. Thanks for that stack of 
books you kept in the corner of the living room. They got me reading early, and 
I haven't stopped since.

Thanks for taking me to church when I didn't want to go, and for making me work 
in the garden when I would have rather been riding my bike. Both made me a 
better person.

Thanks, Dad, for everyone of those homemade, Italian dinners over the years. 
They were food for both stomach and soul. Thanks for all those bags of 
groceries you brought me, they got me through college. Thanks, too, for always 
bringing my old, dead cars back to life with your miracle mechanic work. You 
kept me driving instead of walking.

Thanks, Dad, for always encouraging me and supporting my choices, even when I 
made the wrong ones. Thanks for always being there to talk to when I had 
problems and pain. You helped me through a lot more than you know over the 
years. Thanks for being such a great dad to all your sons, and for being such a 
loving grandfather to all of your grandchildren.

Thanks so much, Dad, for being there through laughter and tears, triumph and 
tragedy, love and loss, happiness and heartbreak. I am so happy that you were 
my Dad. You taught me how to always be there for my own children. You showed me 
how to be a good man. You helped me find my way through life and back to love, 
joy, and God.

Happy Father's Day, Dad. I hope we get to share many more of them together.

I love you,

Joe

Joseph J. Mazzella
[guide.chat] Father's Tributes

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