83 years ago today, two very important people were born into the world.
The first one was my father, Theodore Augustus Wyke. Born on January 5,
1923 in Hanford, California to Edward Thomas Wyke and Kathryn Almina
Russell.
My daddy....the sweetest, kindest, tenderest person I knew. Growing up,
I might not have described him with these words, but certainly, as a
grown woman and mother, this was how I came to know him.
My best memory of my Daddy is this ... once I was grown and on my own,
in EVERY single conversation I ever had with him , we always said "I
Love You.' That is something I will always be thankful for. No man was ever loved more.
I remember when I would call him and tell him I was coming to visit, he would say "Oh that's wonderful honey, what do you want for dinner?" The man LOVED to cook and he LOVED to eat.
And oh he would have been proud of our New Year's Eve dinner...sushi (vegan, of course!) The meal turned out wonderful! Miranda made most of it...thank you Grrgrr!
After Daddy died, I learned so many things about him. He was in a play when he was in high school. Huh? When he was in the Air Force, he traveled to the Phillipines and Bornea. I never knew anything about these times in his life.
There was still so much to learn from him. He died on 11/28/95. A Tuesday, four days after Thanksgiving. That was the last time I spoke to him. Our last exchange was "I Love You Daddy," "I Love You ShellShell." I think of him every day. I miss him.
Also born on 1/5/23 was Glen's Mom. She was one classy dame. Always gracious, always true, always genuine, always kind. She hated garlic and bugs but that was all she hated. She only saw beauty in the world. She brought out the best in people. She made friends EVERYWHERE she went. She had a charm about her and she endeared herself to anyone she ever met. I am a better person for having had her in my life and I am SO grateful Miranda had a chance to love her and know her.
Claire died this past year at the age of 82 on Sunday, April 10. I will forever treasure a handwritten note I have from Claire. It reads, "You are a shining example of the modern woman: bright, accomplished, modest, caring, and beautiful." I cry (like I'm doing now) when I think that this woman, whom I respected and loved so much, saw me this way.
I love you and hope you have some special memories that will help lift your spirits and get you through the day. Somedays the burden feels heavier than others. I wish us all comfort and I wish us strength.