I won't lie, there were times when I thought I had the worst life -- he was super strict, expected nothing short of excellence and immensely overprotective. It took years for me to appreciate and even revel in that side of him. I believe I was one of four apples of his eye. He was definitely the apple of mine.
I often said I wish every girl in the world had a Daddy who loved her unconditionally. Every woman should grow up with that feeling. However, I was never fond of sharing my Daddy with other girls. The pain of losing him though is the flip side of that coin and something I would never wish upon anyone.
One of my favorite memories is our road trip to New Orleans to pick up my sister after her first year in college. While he gave me driving instructions - no it did not matter that I had been driving for years or owned my own vehicle - he told me about his days as a youth...in the south...during Jim Crow. I still shake my head at most of it. He was a troublemaker at his core.
Fighting and defeating a number of illnesses throughout the years, his heart became increasingly worse and his quality of life suffered. No longer able to visit the saints, and others along the way, he resorted to calling whenever someone was on his heart and mind.
I buried my Daddy on Good Friday -- April 10, 2020 in the midst of a pandemic in a small cemetery in his home state. Can't say this was what I had ever imagined. He wasn't surrounded by the scores of friends and family who loved him. All the nieces and nephews, and others, who consider Uncle Raymond their favorite uncle were not there to reminisce. But he always said he didn't want all of that. He got his wish.
I know Christ Tomlin wrote his song about God -- The Father. But amazingly, the words fit my earthly Daddy too.
You're a good good father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am.
I buried my Daddy on Good Friday. There is significance there.
