Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my father's 90th birthday!  It's a hard concept to wrap one's head around, especially when for the past 20 some years, I have only seen my Dad maybe a half a dozen times.  .. which is a whole different story, that won't ever be shared on my blog.  It goes too deep, hurts too much, and no amount of wishing it so, can change the final outcome, anyway.

But it is his birthday, and I do love him, and today he does turn 90 yrs old.

Once was a time he was surrounded by a loving family... he came from a very large family - he lost his mother when he was 12 yrs old, and being the third eldest of 11 children, grew up helping his father and his 14 yr old sister and 13 yr old brother, run the family farm, and raise his 8 younger siblings - one of which was a newborn.

I think he must have had a tough childhood - although I can't recall him ever really complaining about it much, I do believe his childhood made him a worked, a doer, a go-getter, and he has many talents that I believe he learned from necessity at a very young age.

His biggest joy in life has always been fishing... he would still rather be sitting in a boat with a fishing pole in hand than just about anything else.

Dad lives on his own, in a small apartment, and the only family he has living near is a brother who lives about 20 miles away.  All his children live in different parts of the country,  his grandchildren are scattered all over, so basically he is alone.  Most of that is of his choosing, yet, one cannot help but feel bad that a man his age, that once was surrounded by family, now spends a pretty lonely life.

Last I heard, Dad was planning on spending his 90th birthday on a trip to a Casino somewhere in the USA with his brother.  I hope they have a great time, and although I don't think Dad is really about money -  I hope he wins enough to make his life more comfortable.

I wish him continued good health, the love of family and friends, and many many more great fishing trips!

Happy 90th Birthday Dad... I love you.