I called him Daddy. He loved his devoted wife and took care of us all like the hero he was.
He taught me so many things that have served me well in my life. The first thing that pops in my mind is food. He taught me to cook. Not with recipes but with instinct. He took me to the Department of Motor Vehicles when I was 16 to get my driver's license. He properly harassed boyfriends and was supportive during rough times. When I reached adulthood he treated me as such. When I called with a question or a problem he gave me answers and solutions. He is the perfect example of being a father without sharing DNA. He met my mom when I was a toddler and proudly referred to me as his daughter after they got married. His devotion to his family never wavered.
Cooking brought great joy to Daddy and his cooking brought great eating to us. During my teenage years, Daddy became a chicken farmer and we ate a lot of chicken. Think of Bubba and his shrimp then substitute chicken. He taught me to cut a chicken into 2 breast, 2 drumsticks, 2 thighs, 2 wings, a back and a wishbone! My favorite was the wishbone. When we fried chicken together he and I would eat the wishbone before we served dinner.
When I was 15 (almost 16) I had my appendix removed. When it was time to leave the hospital he took me to the DMV and I got my first driver's license.
Dating was a real treat when I was in high school. First of all, if a guy called and asked for me, Daddy would ask them what they wanted to talk to me about. For the Prom, my date arrived in a pickup truck. Daddy asked for the keys and got in the truck and drove away. My date and I stood in the driveway waiting...
In 1988 when I gave birth to the first grandchild, Daddy became Papa. He loved babies and they loved him. He was like the baby whisperer.
When Daddy was a much younger man he got the nickname "Blue". Because his black Ford Fairlane was so fast it looked like a blue streak when he drove by.
Pridge, what a name! He wore it well. He's been called many things in his life, my favorite is Daddy.
Gone but never forgotten, Today, March 26, 2021 at 3:58 pm, my Daddy passed peacefully.
There is so much more to tell, I hope to add more of my memories to this post in the future. Daddy was one of a kind. RIP