FATHERS, DADDYS, POPS and PAPAs

For me I have been blessed to have a Father, a Daddy, a Pop and a PaPa.  

Each family puts a different tag on that special person in their lives.   For me personally I have a Heavenly Father.  The one above all others who I give thanks and praise to for all that surrounds me.  I am not speaking of material items but of the love that envelopes me each morning upon rising and every evening when I close my eyes.   I am at a place in my life that I have no fear but only joy in each day.

Yes, I was/am a Daddy’s girl.  The first born of Frank and Ruth.  He joined the Merchant Marines when he was 18 and travelled to Asia.   Several years after his return he met my beautiful mother, married and had three daughters.  Daddy was a fireman for over 20 years.  His frame was strong, his hair was black, and his smile was contagious.  When I speak of my Father, Tom always chimes in to make sure everyone in the room knows Daddy was a Southern Gentleman.   Yes, he was.  

Daddy loved the water.  Besides the fact that I am a pisces, I am sure he was instrumental in nurturing my love of the ocean.  He was an avid fisherman.  All three of his daughters were taught to fish as well as run a trout line at a very early age.  Some of my fondest memories are those of the Friday Night Fish Fry’s.  Family and friends enjoyed fresh fried trout or red fish, fried potatoes, white bread and ketchup.  Afterwards, the adults and children would dance to the tunes of Hank Williams playing in the background.  To this day, I enjoy watching a fishing show on the weekend.  Who does that?? lol. 

He loved his Oso Little League baseball team the “RoadRunners”.   No, there were not any biological sons in our family but that didnt matter.  I would go with him to team practices and games dragging the equipment bag, keeping the record sheets and sitting in the dugout.  Its no wonder I love Sports.

Daddy knew Tom and I were having a boy in September but he just couldnt make it and passed in June 1980.  It saddens me still that he never had an opportunity to play with our sons and they never had the privilege of meeting their GrandDaddy.

Some years after Daddy passed Mother met and married a very handsome and loving man we call PaPa. Of German Descent and originally from Gonzales, PaPa brought two sons to our family.  I still remain the oldest.  lol.  Personally, I don’t like the word “step” and so if anyone asks, we are his daughters, grandchildren, etc.  I have never really asked if he minds but I dont think he does.   

PaPa’s an oilman, golfer, piddler, gotta be movin kind of guy.  He has a great sense of humor and is always open for a good laugh and conversation.  Mother is the original "plant a rock grow a tree" gardener in our family.  However, PaPa now has his own patch of squash and melons and it appears the exceptional gardening skills have worn off on him.  

PaPa has an uncanny knack for time and he is ALWAYS on time.  If he says we are leaving at 638pm you better be ready.  lol.  He is not kidding.  However, he has a soft spot in his heart for his inherited girls because it seems we’ve always gotten anything we have asked of him.  I can’t imagine not having our “PaPa”.   Just dont play Wheel of Fortune with him.  

I want to backup as I also had a Pop.  Tom called him Dad.   Tom’s father was quite a jovial character. A tall robust man with a hearty laugh.  Pop travelled each week but when he was home it felt as if there was a party about to happen.  He loved bowling, bridge and spending time with the family and “Tommy”.  

When Tom was a senior in high school he ran track for King High School in Corpus Christi.  In February, 1970,  I rode with Tom’s Dad to Houston for a track meet at the Astrodome.  I had gone to a lot of Toms meets but nothing like this.  Long story short, Tom ran the 440 yd dash and set an Indoor High School World Record and the announcer and the crowd in the Dome went crazy.  I will never forget how Pop and I jumped and screamed!!! It was hysterical.  Pop grabbed my hand and before I knew it we had somehow made our way down to the field where Tom was surrounded by those wanting to do interviews.  I have never seen Tom’s father more exhuberant than that day.  He was always so very proud of his Tommy but this day was like no other.  

Toms father passed away a few years after we married in 1972.  Tom and I lived across the street from each other and so I knew Mr. Broderick for quite awhile before he became my Pop.  I loved him and I believe he loved me too.  I wish I could thank him for all of his possitive attributes he passed to Tom.   If he could see Tommy today he would think he was standing in front of a mirror.

Of course the Big Daddy in this house is Mr. Tom.. aka Dad, Uncle Tom, Baby Whisperer.   Never has there been a bigger heart, family protector, educator and communicator than Tom.   Full of respect, compassion, laughter and love, Tom has shown our children to be a “Man” means many things.  It fills my heart with joy to see Brian and David have inherited their fathers qualities with a whole lot of their own style and individuality. 

How proud I am....