Project Amour Eric and Chandra's Journey to Get Married in Paris

Un Homme Merveilleux

A Wonderful Man

Today is a sad day for me.  My father passed away on January 3, 2008.  I will always view that date as one that changed my life more than any other single day.  I've decided to honor my father today by writing about him and sharing with all of the cyber world just how amazing a person he really was.

My father and I were very close.  Growing up I was a Daddy's girl through and through.  My father was a humble, generous, faithful and joyous person.  A joke and a smile was never too far away when you were talking to my dad.  He had a special ability to connect with people.  I think it was because my dad always saw each and every person as equals.  Looks, money, education, etc were never considerations of my father.  He used to say "people are people wherever you go" -- and he truly never saw things any other way.  He would sit and talk to anyone.  He had an uncany ability to find a common bond.  He could and did talk for hours with someone he literally just met.  He was a givin man.  He had a big personality and and even bigger heart.  Two of his most favorite sayings were "A stranger is a friend you have not yet met" and "Smile, it'll make you feel better".

Growing up I did not realize how much truth and sincereity were in his words.  Dad used to get upset with me if he dropped me off for school or picked me up from ball or band practice and I was not smiling.  Simple things like this were just a part of my everyday life with dad.  He was nurturing, encouraging, passionate and simple.  He was a one-of-a-kind.

Today, I just long to spend one day, one hour, one minute or even just one more second with him.  I know I am blessed.  Blessed that he is my father.  Blessed that I was raised by an ordinary man that was an extraordinary person.  Blessed that I have a family with deep ties.  Ties that bind no matter what. Today I am sad but for my dad I am smiling.  Afterall it always makes me feel better.