Dance With My Father

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Blue

I've never not had a dad on Father's day before.

Gemini

Today would have been Dad's 59th birthday. Fifty-nine used to sound ancient, but it really doesn't seem that old anymore. I guess I'm getting old.

This past weekend we celebrated Dana's birthday and although it was nice, it just wasn't the same. Her birthday and Dad's are only five days apart and we have always celebrated them together, along with Father's Day. In fact, every seven years, Dad's birthday and Father's Day would fall together.

Last year, we had a party at Dana's. We all went swimming and then grilled out. We never would have dreamed that it would be the last party of it's kind.

Dad and Dana were always the family Gemini - the twins. And alike they were. Witty and bright. Loyal and loving. A tad feisty, but you could always count on them to be there when you needed them.

Dad was so proud of Dana. He had often said that if he had things to do over, he would have been a teacher. (In many ways he was.) He was thrilled when Dana became a third grade and later a kindergarten teacher and loved hearing all of the funny stories she would come home with. He would just beam when he told people about his daughter the teacher and would talk about her (and his other two kids) to anyone who would listen. He so was proud of the kind, caring and committed person she had become. Dad was so pleased with the family she had begun and he absolutely adored Sophia.

This birthday was very difficult for Dana to celebrate without her co-guest of honor, but I know that she can still feel his love surrounding her everyday.