Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Yesterday was my father's birthday. He would have been 63 yrs old.

I gave blood on Friday for a sickle cell event we were having here at work and it made me think of him. I decided that every year around his birthday that I would make sure that I gave blood. Giving blood was something that he did on a regular basis. Whenever he could - he did. I remember growing up thinking that it was part of his job; he would say things like, "You know I had to give blood today," or I would hear him tell people that he couldn't do something else because it was the day he was scheduled to give blood. And occasionally I got stuck with him when it was time for him to go to the Red Cross and in later years would drop him off and pick him up. I even remember seeing his name on the wall one time as one of those 40 or 50 gallon donors. So I think it is only fitting that I pass on the same legacy to my children. Giving blood saves lives and I am going to do it more often, but most definitely on his birthday in the future. I think it is a fitting tribute to the great man that I got to call "Daddy."

Rest in peace, Daddy! We love you!