My father was the most loving, caring and generous Dad. There is nothing that he would not do for me. He gave me the most special childhood.
I remember he used to put signs up all over the house once a week that said, "Kiddie Night" Skies the limit.
He and my mom would take us to Shakey's for pizza and we'd sing to the Irish songs on the screen. My dad changed the letters from the Irish song H-a-r-r-i-g-a-n to S-u-l-l-i-v-a-n and so we grew up thinking it was our song. lol
I remember sometimes 'Kiddie Night' involved going to the corner of Elmhurst Rd. and Devon where there was a hotdog stand and watching the planes take off from the west side of Ohare Airport.
We did many different things for Kiddie Night, to include having movie night and banana splits. Dad always said, 'Skies the limit'.
I remember when he gave me my first bike, it was a Schwinn Stingray. He went above and beyond and painted it a gold color, added a leopard banana seat and wrote my name Sharon in cursive on the chain guard.
I remember when our bird 'Pary the Parakeet' passed away, he put our beloved bird in a Super Hot Dog box and put a cross on the box and then we had a little funeral for 'Pary' in the back yard.
I remember when he and my mom gave me my first car, for my 16th birthday, he called me out to the driveway and there was a T-bird with a great big bow on it.
I could go on and on about how wonderful my dad was to me during my whole life. He'd listen to any problem or dilemma that I had and then he'd walk me through it with wisdom, compassion and love.
He filled our home with laughter and song.
He never spanked me even though that was the popular way to discipline kids back then.
He loved me and reasoned with me which resulted in me loving him so much that I did not want to disappoint him.
He was the best dad and friend to me always.
His last days were admirable, he never complained, and everyone in the hospital adored him.
I miss my dad.