Happy Birthday Dad

/ Jodi

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad’s birthday.

I am so glad to have him in my life to celebrate.

This is one of the very few pictures I have from my early childhood.

As a child of divorce, many photos of my early life were destroyed along with the marriage that ended.  I suppose in an effort to erase the “mistake.”

But I am so grateful for this photo shared with me by my sweet aunt of a birthday celebration that was shared by my brother and cousin.

Sadly, half of the people in the photo are no longer with us…
Cancer, aging, murder, suicide… Many of us can relate to similar losses.

But I have my Dad in my life, and today is his birthday.
And I am choosing to cherish these moments!

By the way – can you tell which two we are?
I think we look so much alike!

Happy Birthday Dad!
From your only daughter.
Your first-born child.

You were my first great love.
You are the man I am still discovering.
The Daddy I am still allowing myself to remember.

Thank you for being back in my life.
Thank you for healing the wounds.

Thank you for ending the nightmares.
Thank you for fulfilling the dreams.

I love you.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

61 thoughts on “Happy Birthday Dad”

  6. Hi Jodi! I read today’s post and did not really understand it until I went back and read “The Journey Back to Daddy’s Girl” post. What a touching story with a beautiful ending and yet a beginning too. So wonderful that both of you are able to share your lives after years without contact. Thank-you for sharing your joy. P.S. I think your Dad and you do look alike in the sweet photo.

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  16. I’m so glad you were able to mend the relationship with your dad, Jodi! ❤ I recognized you right away in the photo and your dad! And your brother. I do think you all look alike. I was wondering if your grandma was in this photo?

    Happy Birthday to your dad!! 🎉 And Happy Father’s Day too! 💙

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    • Awh! Spotted us right away – huh? 🙂 Grandma is the first one on the far left. She died very young of cancer. Broke my dad’s heart to lose her so young. His dad lived to quite a ripe old age – he is the other man in the photo. And my sweet Aunt Gwen – dad’s only sibling and sister, is behind my dad.

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    • It is….. life is that way – huh? I just try every day to wake up and choose to focus on the good things about life. Some days are easier than others. 🙂 ❤

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  20. blockquote, div.yahoo_quoted { margin-left: 0 !important; border-left:1px #715FFA solid !important; padding-left:1ex !important; background-color:white !important; } Great tribute to your dad!  Happy birthday to him!  

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

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  21. I totally get how treasured this image is. I’m a child who survived two divorces. There are very few images of me as a baby or kid that have survived that unfortunately. I think it’s amazing that you have your Daddy in your life and he can celebrate his birthday with you and your family and feel all this amazing love. That’s quite wonderful and worth shouting about! 🙂

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    • Oh Deborah! Two divorces! I’m so sorry. How difficult that must have been. I hope you have some good relationships with some of them. I am so fortunate for my almost fairy tale ending of my tragedy. Nobody or situation is perfect, and I do not have a relationship with my mother any more or other father, which is a bit tragic, but something that must be for my own mental health and well being. Life can be so difficult, but there are many great things too, and I try every day to choose to focus on the good. 🙂 Hugs!

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  25. Happy Birthday to your dad! I’m so glad he’s back in your life…what a gift, after all those years without him. And I want credit: I guessed right about which two you were, although I admit I peeked at the comments before I wrote mine just to make sure I was right!
    What a lovely photo of all of you together…certainly something to cherish. I honestly believe that our loved ones live on through our memories.

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  26. Jodi, happy belated birthday to your dear and special father! 🎂
    🎩 Happy Father’s Day, too! 👏
    Oops! I really liked your wishes but may have not left you a message on Friday. I’m sure by now you saw you were nominated for an award which kept me busy in Thursday and Friday.

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