A Little Message from Kroger

About a week ago I received a pack of coupons from Kroger. You know, the ones that they send you that are actually useful because they are tracking what you're buying using your loyalty card. Here's the thing. They were addressed to Ralph Moore but here at my address. Ralph Moore is my father, and today is the 10th Anniversary of his death. I know all kinds of things are stored in data bases, and things can get mixed up, and my father and I have shared the same address, but I have not lived at that address for 6 years. I have only lived at my present address for a year and a half. How did his name get attached to this address, and how did it get linked to my Kroger card? And right now you're thinking, "why all this tadoo about some coupons? Here's why. I don't think it was a computer glitch at all. I think it was my Daddy's way of letting me know he's still around, and he hasn't really left me totally alone. I've written about my dad before, but I'm not sure I've shared what I'll share today. My dad had a hard life growing up. He was the youngest of I think 7 brothers and sisters. His dad died when he was 3. They were dirt poor living in a tiny town in Georgia. He had one eye that was severely crossed, and he never had any surgery to correct it. As I'm sure you can imagine, that invited a lot of teasing. He dropped out of high school because of, what we would label bullying today, not because he was scared, but he didn't want to be involved in the fights anymore. He was smart as a whip, and I know, given the chance, he could have had every degree available. Life just never gave him the chance. I got the feeling from talking to him that no one was really in his corner rooting for him, encouraging him or even pushing him to his potential. For all of that background, he could have been nothing, but he wasn't. The first memories I have of my dad were of him working for NCR - National Cash Register - He repaired cash registers. He was on the cutting edge of technology as NCR sent him to school to learn about the way the "new" computerized cash registers would work. Consequently, he knew more about computers than anyone I knew. He could always figure it out. He had that kind of brain. That makes him sound analytical and cold, but he was anything but. He would cry at the littlest things that touched him. He was probably the biggest reason I have such a sensitive side. I joke all the time that I cry at a Hallmark commercial. The biggest thing I want the world to know about my dad was that he was always in my corner. He believed in me and everything I wanted to do. He always supported me from the time I was singing in the Cherub choir at age 3 to attending the numerous shows I was in until his health prevented him from doing so.  Until the day he died, he was trying to get me to send a tape of me singing, and then in later years, me and my girls singing together to someone because he just knew we would be famous. A good part of who I am is because of my dad. Through everything, good and bad, I knew he loved me ALWAYS! I miss him a lot, but I know he's around. He just used Kroger to remind me. LOVE YOU, DADDY!
Note: I started writing this on 11/16, the true anniversary.

Just a Day

Father's Day ended 15 minutes ago. This day has been just another day for me for several years now since my sweet daddy died. My children are not really involved in their father's life, so this day comes and goes without much to do, but because my sister posted a wonderful status about my dad, I have been thinking about him for the past hour. I probably didn't say it near enough when he was alive, but Thank you, Daddy! And yes, he was my "Daddy" I called him Dad occasionally, and for a while we went through a "Pop" phase, but even as an adult I called him Daddy. Through my childhood and teen years he had his issues, but I never once doubted that he loved me, and would protect me. Eventhough he was  extremely non-confrontational, let someone say something bad or attack one of his girls or his wife, and WATCH OUT!!! He was always honest with me, even when  I didn't want to hear it. I knew I got that quality from somewhere. :) But for all the things he did for me through my life, and there were many, the thing I am most thankful for is the fact that he stepped into the role of father to my two daughters when their own father left when they were 2 and 5. For that I will forever be grateful that they got to feel that special bond between a daddy and his little girl, just like I did. You left us way too soon, Daddy, and you would be so proud of the amazing people that those two little girls ( now 17 and 20
) have become. I know that somewhere you can see them, and I know you are smiling and shedding tears of joy. I love you, Daddy! Happy Father's Day!