Happy birthday, Dad!

by

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(before)

Lately there’s been lots of talk about OLD SCHOOL BLOGGING.

Bloggers doing posts with random life questions or the ABC’s of life (?) and referring to it as OLD SCHOOL.

For me old school blogging is something completely different.

It’s a return to the days when blogging was my life laid bare.  Everything hanging out for all to see.

Old school blogging is, for me, back when life was a less complicated.

I wasn’t married.

I had no child.

I could say what I wanted about *all* that I wanted and not think twice about it.

dr. seuss tattoos

ahh the carefree days of the old school.

For me old school blogging is the most personal of blogging.

And today Im doing just that.

Today, more than anything, I’m living not blogging about life.

I’m thinking about this guy:

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I’m appreciating how he has supported and encouraged me though SO MANY crazy, hair-brained schemes and endeavors.

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(this was the year I *randomly* played the CYMBALS in band)

I’m pausing to be thankful for how he MADE TIME FOR ME.

I’m acknowledging how I, just like the Tornado, didn’t care about logistics—I just knew who showed up.

My dad always showed up.

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Even when “showing up” entailed flying to Guatemala to help his daughter who was in a bit of a PANIC as a first time mom living solo in a country where she didn’t speak the language.

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Even when “showing up” entailed crossing the country to come and help his daughter who was STRUGGLING in a new city.

As a solo parent.

And wondering why she was here.

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It’s said you don’t appreciate your own parents until you’re a parent yourself.

I scoffed at that notion for a long time—but I’ve learned the hard way how, for me, it is 100% true.

 It’s also said you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.

I’m still scoffing at *that* notion.

THANK YOU DAD.

For all that you did *and* for simply showing up.

Still.

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(after)

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Comments

  2. Fantastic post! Happy birthday to your father, who sounds like an amazing man and a perfect dad for you.

    My dad turns 80 next month!

  6. Pops HAD to be super awesome because look how his daughter and granddaughter turned out – Happy birthday to him!

  9. Awwww, you dad is the sweetest! So is mine and his is birthday was yesterday! We go out for lunch EVERY thursday (without my mom, ha!) and it is the most special time of the week!

  15. Happy Birthday Papa Birnberg! I think one of the reasons that Carla and I became such good friends is that we had such similar caring Dads. ?

  19. It is such a beautiful tribute Carla. Loved it & you are a lucky woman! Many men of that generation just did not get it OR did not have the time as the main money maker of the home.

  22. I lost my Dad long before his 80th. 🙁
    You’re so lucky to have yours. He sounds like a special man.
    May you all enjoy many more happy years together.

  26. Love this post, what a great tribute to a wonderful man! “Showing up” is so important and it’s obvious you learned that lesson well ’cause you always do that for your daughter too.

    And I’m so old school and out-of-it when it comes to blogging, that I didn’t even know there was a recent “old school” trend! But then I never did old school even back when it was new school. Random life questions or the ABC’s of life? Where was I? 🙂

  32. Happy birthday to your DAD!! He sounds like a great guy – so glad that you have a dad like him in your life.

  33. Happy birthday to your dad! He sounds like an amazing guy; it’s wonderful that you had such a supportive person rooting for you along the way. I’m not yet a parent, but I bet I really will appreciate my parents a thousand times more once I’ve stepped into their shoes.

  34. Daddy’s are so darn special. I didn’t have a relationship with my father, but with seeing bloggers pay tribute to their own dads through the years, I recognize just how special a dad is in the life of a daughter. It’s wonderful.

  36. Your dad shares his birthday with my mom who would have been 86 today! Instead we celebrate the 13th birthday of my rescued Dalmatian/running partner to whom I “gave” this special day as hers. Happy birthday to your dad, my mom, and Penny.

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