Happy 60th Birthday, Daddy! (March 30)

Happy 60th birthday, Dad! I wonder what you would have thought about turning 60. I can imagine that it would not have bothered you at all. You never were bothered by age, or getting older.
Charlie and I had a little birthday "celebration" for you today. We went to the cemetery with your favorite treat--Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. We sang "Happy Birthday" to you, and then we each ate one and left one for you. Charlie insisted that I unwrap it because the animal that you "would send to eat it would probably not know how to get the wrapper off." He thought that you would have a deer eat the candy. In fact, that night a fawn showed up on our front porch, and he told me that you sent it to say thank you to us for the treat. I think that he was probably right. It is rare that we see a fawn without her family, and that night we did. Ryan sang to you later that night. I wish you could have been there in person to hear both of them. They would love you so much, and I know how much you would love them. Not a day goes by that I do not think about what a huge loss it is for all of us.
I remember when I gave you this poem. It reminded me of you so much that I wrote it down and put it in a card for you. You kept it in your wallet, and I remember going through your wallet after you died and there it was. I think it says so much about the person you were, and the person you wanted me (and everyone else who knew you) to be. You made us all so much better for having known you.

When I die, give what is left of me to children.
If you need to cry, cry for your brothers walking beside you,
Put your arms around anyone, and give them what you need to give me
I want to leave you with something, something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people you have known and loved
And if you cannot live without me, let me live on in your eyes, your mind, and your acts of kindness.
You can love me most by letting hands touch hands, and letting go of children that need to be set free.
Love does not die. People do
So when all that is left of me is love, Give me away...

Happy birthday to the most wonderful, nicest person I have ever know. I love you, Daddy!