A Tribute to Daddy

Twenty-five years ago, I was only 28 years old. Amie was 10, Curt was 8, Bryce was only 3, Lance was just a month old, and Drew was not even born. Yesterday was the anniversary of my dad's last Valentine's Day. I remember it every year. The first 10 years were harder, and although it's true what they say about time healing all wounds, time never makes you forget or long for that last chance to say, "I love you" one more time, or "I'm sorry for not being the princess you thought I was,", or wishing for a chance to be Daddy's Little Girl one more time.

Things I miss are hearing the song, "Robin, Robin, I've been thinking, What a fine world this would be...", "Peggy! Where's my no salt!", "Who farred that shot?", "Roostus Rastus, Johnson Brown," the song, "Peanut on the Railroad Track," and him calling me Daisy Mae. I miss lying in Mama and Daddy's expansive King bed while they simultaneously watched TV and read, and getting tickled till I couldn't stand it, and laughing, and running away from that awfully scary, children-chasing gorilla he became, or watching him wiggle his ears and whistle at the same time, and listening to the song "Cool Water" with him, and making that trip to the farm before the house was completed, and snuggling under some covers in the cold car while he grilled the best burger I've ever eaten to this day, and watching Hee Haw with him, and arguing that Eric Clapton HAD to be a better guitar player than Buck Owens or Roy Clark.

I don't miss sharing ONE bathroom at the summer place in Bluffton.

He gave us a good life, and while there were things that went on behind closed doors that I was never privy to growing up, I know in my heart that my dad, The Senator, as he is known in Velociworld, worked hard to provide us with privileges of music, dance, sports, the ballet, clothes every Christmas from Rich's in Atlanta, special Disney movies about the wilderness, shopping sprees with friends, drive-in movies with red Kool-Aid and brown, butter-greasy grocery bags full of home-popped popcorn (My favorite was the double feature of "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Tell-Tale Heart"), homes where we could spend time on the water skiing, crabbing, fishing, and shrimping, red towels that had our names embroidered on them, and, once, a long time ago, the honor of wearing t-shirts that said, "Vote for my Daddy."

I want my children and my grandchildren to know that they have a lot to look forward to when they see him on the other side of the veil and hug him and talk with him and give out those hugs and kisses he missed in this life. I am so proud to be the daughter of Ralph Lloyd Crawford Sr.

I love and miss you, Daddy!