ON MY DADDY’S BIRTHDAY
Daddy, I have loved you so
in many ways you may never know.
You were my strength when things went wrong.
You never let me down,
I could always count on
you to go along.
I was not afraid of anything
when you were there strongly
protecting and loving.
I just never knew how much
it meant to have you,
to hear your laughter,
see the sparkle in your eyes
and feel your touch.
No, I never knew how precious
where these moments
until they were no more and many,
many years have gone by since.
Yet, lingering always fresh
and crisp in memory
is the love I know you
had for me.
We shared many good and happy times,
and I failed
to tell you as I should
somehow I know you understand.
So today, again, my sweet Daddy
I will always love you and send
Happy Birthday wishes to another land.
Sara Gardner Blow ©1989
Alto Lee Gardner left us in 1971 to join his loved ones in Heaven. His favorite song was always "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" and it is still one of mine. Daddy was a hard worker all his life. He worked as a 'Woodman' for the early part of his years, then took up farming. He worked as Farm Manager for as long as he could and his health began declining more. He & my Mama had 7 children and were married for just over 50 years when he passed away. She survived him by 17 (lonely) years. I did love my Daddy very much and we were so much alike that we clashed headon over many things!! I was the only one in the family to 'get by with that'.
Thanks for letting me share this with you,
Sara