This One is for My Dad

Tomorrow would be my dad's 66th birthday....and I've been thinking about him a lot lately.  He died October 10, 1989. I was 17 years old... he was 43, my mom was 39.  I can't help but make comparisons... I'm 39....my husband will be 43 in 2 weeks...my son will be 17 in 3 weeks.  Yea it kind of freaks me out a little (if you've read my past posts you understand).  But like I said tomorrow is my dad's birthday and he was larger than life to me...so this post is dedicated to him.

There was two sides to my dad that I loved.... One side was a great businessman.  He worked in the casinos. I say I grew up in New Jersey, but we actually moved back and forth from Las Vegas to New Jersey a couple of times.  He was the hardest working man I knew, and he was very much respected in the work place. I remember times that I would be with him walking through one of the places he worked and it seemed like he knew everyone. I just remember random people working saying "Hey Mr. Hyde...how are you doing today?" and my dad would respond (he always knew their names)..always with a smile on his face. Maybe these are just odd memories I have, but it was a great example to me of how to treat people. When my dad died he was the CEO for Donald Trump's three casinos in Atlantic City. Now my dad was not perfect...he worked all the time...he had to. He was gone a lot...and it was hard on everyone, especially our mom, (who by the way is one of my heroes). I just wanted to spend time with him, anytime that I could. So if he was home and watching PBS... a lot of times I was sitting beside him.

The other side of my dad was a great outdoors man. He grew up on a farm (in the town I live in now), and he loved hunting and fishing, and being in the mountains. When I was younger my dad taught me how to fish, how to shoot a gun, how to use a bow and arrow. I guess I was ok at it...and I probably can't do any of those things anymore...it's been so many years.  I've hunted ducks, pheasants, doves...and I've fished... a lot.  Did I enjoy doing any of these things? Depends how you look at it.... I hate fish...but I loved spending the time with him.  I have to admit I liked shooting guns, and I felt kind of cool with a bow and arrow.. (really I'm kind of a dork I know). 

My dad was always the one, when my mom and I would argue, to come and smooth things over.  He would sit and talk to me, dry my tears and make me smile. He always and I mean always said to me "Hey..don't smile..you're face might crack." As hard as I tried not to, I of course always did, and then he would give me a hug and tell me everything would be ok. He was quiet, but stern...strong. I never wanted to disappoint him.  I can't help but look at my life my choices I've made and wonder if he's disappointed. I think he's probably shaking his head a lot...but I have a feeling he knows I can get through all this.  Maybe I'll take a drive through the mountains tomorrow...Happy Birthday Dad.  I love you. :o)