My dad died last May. Today would have been his 86th birthday. The past few weeks have been difficult leading up to this occasion. I’ve been dreading it. I’ve been sad. I’ve been pensive.
Today, I am choosing to smile when I think about my dad. I’m thinking about how our Christmas tree always stayed up until January 6 each year, both for my dad’s birthday as well as for dia de los reyes (Kings Day). I’m thinking about how he used to say that we were both born on different Christmases. One of us on December 25 and the other on January 6, bookending the season with what he used to call Mexican Christmas.
Today I am smiling thinking about how I learned to dance by standing on his feet as he waltzed around the room. I’m smiling because we shared so much. I’m smiling because deep, deep down, he was a good man, a good father, a good person. He just didn’t know how to deal with the challenges life through at him.
In the end, he had daughters that mourned him; grandchildren and great grandchildren that mourned him; and so many others. And after 85 years of life, mistakes, and challenges, to be mourned and missed by so many, is truly something to smile about.
Happy birthday, Dad!
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Happy birthday to your dad! Perhaps a bittersweet smile, but a great smile none the less. You have to smile and remember the good in his life. I’ve caught bits of his story in the past through your blog. Thanks for sharing!
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I just got a text from one of my nephews…his son was born early this morning so I have another reason to smile!
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Great! So your grand-nephew shares his great-grandfather’s birthday? A new family member for the Christmas bookends. So two big smiles – celebrating the birthdays for a life well lived and for a brand new life!
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Congratulations on the new grand-nephew! A very good reason to smile. And, a bittersweet smile for your dad on his birthday. I know how those dreaded days are. I think sometimes the apprehension is actually worse than the day itself.
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Yes, true. We anticipate that things will be one way and worry and stress over it.
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Beautiful Corina- so bittersweet but wonderful to think of him and smile ❤
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Thank you. I wanted to post about him today so I took the opportunity to smile about him and share that.
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What a happy thought – the two of you bookending the Christmas season 🙂
The happy memories are precious indeed!
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Celebrating the ones we’ve loved and lost can definitely bring a smile to your face. Happy birthday to your dad and to your new nephew. How cool is that. I often say that I was my granddad’s birthday present.
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