Happy Father’s Day!

Sometimes, pictures can say more than words, especially when you are an illustrator. I decided to put together a special book for my Dad this year and thought I also needed to post some of the words and pictures here because it will be a few weeks until he can hold the actual book in his hands.


From the very beginning, you taught me to reach for the stars. You taught me to dream the impossible, to keep reaching for the stars... even if it meant going up on my tiptoes. I have kept that sense of wonder alive even as I grew.


You sang a song to my heart. My earliest memories are of your voice singing the Lord’s Prayer to me at night or Scarlet Ribbons. You taught me how to sing in harmony on car trips and I still pick out the tenor line of harmony whenever possible.


When I rode on your shoulders, I felt taller than the trees themselves. It felt as if I could brush the clouds with my fingertips and stare down at everything from the lofty perch of sitting on my daddy’s shoulders... shoulders that were so much higher than anyone else's!


One summer, you built that sandbox in our backyard. It was hard work and I can remember you coming in from the heat and sunshine to swig half the can of black olive juice before heading out to pound more nails. I was SO proud to play in the sandbox that my daddy had made for us.


You instilled in us a love of traveling and adventure. From the moment I stepped off the plane to visit you in Hawaii that first summer, I felt as if I was coming home somehow. When you found out how much I love the plumeria flowers, you made sure that every lei I ever had on the islands after that had those flowers in it.


You walked me down the aisle. When it came time to make a life with the man I had fallen in love with, you walked beside me down the aisle to meet him, tall and proud as I held your arm. Everyone could see where I got my height and I doubt my feet touched the ground that morning.


The love continues. You’ve given my daughters memories and gifts that they will treasure all their lives. They sleep with Monster and Erin Bear every night, read and reread the books you’ve sent and savour the memories of knowing their “BobDoc” despite the miles.

It hasn’t always been easy. I can remember a Father’s Day almost 30 years ago when you told us that you were leaving and I thought my world would shatter, but instead it grew and expanded in ways that I never dreamed of then. My life has indeed been richer for all the experiences.

You have no idea how much I admire your courage as you battle the latest challenge that has been thrown your way. I know that all you are is MUCH stronger than the cancer they found inside you and that your spirit will fight this darkness with all that you have.

This Father’s Day, more than any in 29 years, I needed you tell you how much I love you and to remind everyone out there to hug their dads!